I’m Always Loving You

PreS-Gr 1–Unfolding in first person rhyming couplets, this reassuring title celebrates the unconditional love caregivers have for the children in their lives. The story seems to take place over the course of a typical day, opening in the morning (“I love you when you rise and shine—awake as you can get!/ I love you when I haven’t even had my coffee yet!”) and closing at bedtime (“I love you when I say ‘good night,’ and turn the light out too./ And then, when you are sound asleep/ I’ll still be loving you!”). While the narrative doesn’t necessarily tread new ground, it does offer readers an upbeat affirmation of parental, familial, or custodial love, particularly as the unnamed narrator is never directly identified specifically as a parent. Further, the consistent use of rhythm and rhyme gives the text a singsong quality that lends itself to reading aloud. Rendered digitally, the illustrations neatly complement each verse and depict several diverse families in varying skin tones.