Through the Looking Glass Children's Book Reviews
When a Dad Says "I Love You"
Illustrator: Jennifer A Bell
Picture Book
For ages 5 to 7
Simon and Schuster, 2013 ISBN: 978-0689875328
We all know what the words “I love you” mean, but did you know that many people say “I love you” without saying these words at all? Dads are particularly good at doing this. Instead of saying the words, they show you how much you are loved. They make pancakes for you, admire your muscles, play games with you, and call you silly names like Flap-doodle or Scatterwhomp. When they help you ride your bike or read you your favorite story for the three hundredth time they are saying “I love you.” When they answer your countless “Why?” questions without complaining they are also saying “I love you.”
In this heartwarming, sometimes sweetly funny, book, Douglas Wood, who brought us the books A Quiet Place and Old Turtle, shows children that there are so many ways to say “I love you,” and often these expressions of love are incredibly precious. Throughout the book the simple text is paired with softly expressive illustrations of animal children sharing wonderful moments with their fathers.
