As my readers know, I am a huge lover of books and reading. My kids also love reading as much as I do. I read aloud to my preschooler and toddler almost every day. My daughter has recently learned to read, and she will sit around reading out loud to herself and her brother for hours on end. While I do check out most of the books that my family reads from the library, I do have quite an extensive collection of books at home. Thus, when recently offered the chance to review I Love You Always written by Astrid Desbordes, illustrated by Pauline Martin, and translated by Noelia Hobeika from Little Gestalten in exchange for my honest opinion, I eagerly accepted the opportunity to expand my home library.
Price
I Love You Always currently retails for $16.27 on Amazon and $17.90 on the Little Gestalten website. I would definitely pay under $20 for a hardback children’s book, so I rate the current price positively.
Author/Illustrator
Author Astrid Desbordes studied philosophy before she began writing books for children. After the release of I Love You Always in 2014, the title quickly became a bestseller in her native France. She has also written a number of books on philosophy and religion for adults, and she divides her time between writing and editing. Illustrator Pauline Martin is a native Parisian who illustrates graphic novels for adults and who has previously worked with author Astrid Desbordes.
Text
It’s time for bed.
Max’s mother gives him one last kiss.
“Good night, my little one,” she says.
“Mom, will you love me my whole life?” Max asks.
“Well, let me tell you a secret…” she replies.
I Love You Always is the perfect book for all parents to read aloud to their children. With one simple question, the little boy in the story sparks the most honest and relatable of answers from his mother, who goes on to tell her son about all the moments in life through which she loves him. Recommended for young readers between the ages of 4 and 7 in preschool through third grade, this sweet book imparts a lighthearted lesson in unconditional love.
The text of I Love You Always is simple enough for the youngest readers but captivating enough for adults to read over and over again. My daughter is four and a half years old, and she can already read most of the words in this book by herself. She especially loves reading the book aloud to her baby brother. At twenty months old, my son will also sit still for a reading of this story. The text is therefore perfect for beginning readers, but I also think that kids both older and younger can enjoy reading this sweet book with their parents. I really love this super sweet book about unconditional love.
Illustrations
In addition to the text, I am also quite impressed with the illustrations in I Love You Always. The colors and style have a 1970s feel that I really enjoy. The illustrations are fun and sweet, really bringing the text to life. My daughter tells me that she also like the pictures. My toddler son really enjoys flipping through the pages and pointing at things that he recognizes like balls and a dragon. Although the pictures are fairly simple, details are abundant. I love pouring over each page to find the small details that make each picture more interesting. I am therefore extremely impressed with the illustrations by Pauline Martin in this book.
Final Verdict
If you are searching for a book about unconditional love to share with your child, I highly recommend I Love You Always written by Astrid Desbordes, illustrated by Pauline Martin, and translated by Noelia Hobeika from Little Gestalten. With one simple question, the little boy in the story sparks the most honest and relatable of answers from his mother, who goes on to tell her son about all the moments in life through which she loves him. Recommended for young readers between the ages of 4 and 7 in preschool through third grade, this book is easy enough for my four-year-old to read but interesting enough for me to read aloud over and over again. I especially enjoy the illustrations, whose colors and style have a 1970s feel that I really like. Definitely check out I Love You Always if you want to share a sweet story with your kiddos!
Purchase I Love You Always written by Astrid Desbordes, illustrated by Pauline Martin, and translated by Noelia Hobeika from Little Gestalten on Amazon via my affiliate link.
Image Credits
I Love You Always Book Review © 2016 Heather Johnson
Cover of I Love You Always © 2016 Heather Johnson
Inside Pages of I Love You Always 1 © 2016 Heather Johnson
Inside Pages of I Love You Always 2 © 2016 Heather Johnson
Inside Pages of I Love You Always 3 © 2016 Heather Johnson
Inside Pages of I Love You Always 4 © 2016 Heather Johnson
