A sentimental trip down memory lane that will leave you eager to spend time with family.
A growing boy and his mother share a touching moment in Christina M. Carroll’s charming picture book, The Things I Love. As the little boy settles into bed for the night, they consider the pictures in a memory book, reliving many of the little guy’s favorite activities over the years. Most recently, he has enjoyed various outdoor activities like basketball, riding a bike, climbing trees, and fishing. The scrapbook moves backward in time, showcasing progressively earlier moments in his young life. As a toddler, he built things with his toys, played hide-and-seek, and dug in the dirt. The beautiful memories go as far back as when the child was a baby, cuddling with stuffed animals and falling asleep in his car seat. After the nostalgic journey showcases all kinds of things the boy has enjoyed over the years, he earnestly shares the thing that he loved most of all: his mother! Though this gesture is about as sweet as they come, what the mother follows up with might just bring a tear to your eye.
A beautiful example of love put into words, The Things I Love appeals as much to parents as to children. Each gorgeous page includes a handful of photos that represent the activities that the boy loved throughout a year in his life, and the gradual progression from his energetic pre-teen years back to the innocence of babyhood will strike a chord with any mother. The text is short, rhythmic, and engaging, making it a fine choice for emerging readers. But it is the imagery that will capture the attention of kids of all ages, as every illustration is colorful, emotive, and vibrant. The adorable artwork features the cutest little kid doing all the messy, fun, and silly things kids love to do. With everything from playing leapfrog to pretending to fly, the scenes in his pint-sized photo album will bring to mind real-life adventures readers have enjoyed. And nobody is left out as many different family members and friends are included in the charming storybook. The illustrated photos, especially of the baby chewing on his tiny toes, will touch the hearts of any devoted parent. An uplifting book for early readers and pre-readers as well as a lovely treat for parents, The Things I Love is a sentimental trip down memory lane that will leave you eager to spend time with family.
