Love is in the Little Things

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This sweet story of the friendship between a child and a bear is a celebration of all the ways we show our love to the important people in our lives.

This sweet story of the friendship between a child and a bear is a celebration of all the ways we show our love to the important people in our lives. A heartfelt gesture that’s as simple as a hug, a smile, or a helping hand conveys deep feelings of love and appreciation that words might not be able to show. In this story, a child and a bear are best friends; and even though one is big and the other is small, they find common ground as they play, sing, wish each other good night, and apologize after they have an argument. The little things they do together and for each other make up the meaningful friendship they share.“Love is in…each small sight and sound.”

Gentle prose from veteran children’s author Jones details the many everyday moments full of love: “through summer, winter, / fall, and spring.” Written in the first person, the reassurances of love in all the little things follow a nursery rhyme–like rhythm expertly crafted to comfort little ones. There are verses devoted to smiles, hugs, bubble baths, and bedtime kisses. Spot art and full-page spreads follow a slightly anthropomorphized, giant teddy of a bear and a towheaded, light-skinned human child. The bear appears to be the child’s caretaker, and the two watch fireworks, read bedtime stories, dance, tell jokes, have tea parties and baths, and so on. The sketchy visuals err on the side of oversimplified. A scene where the two gaze at each other while the text refers to “quiet, love-filled, gentle smiles” that “mean more than words can say” leaves the characters looking more blank than loving. While nothing in the prose or the nameless characters offers anything particularly grand or memorable, this offering will make a serviceable script for real-life caretakers reading aloud to sleepy listeners; as the book makes abundantly clear—“love is in the little things,” after all.

The “I love you so much” bookshelf can never be too full. (Picture book. 1-5) —Kirkus ReviewsStella J. Jones lives in Yorkshire, England. She loves baked beans and chocolate (but not together) and building ramshackle bookcases for her far-too-big collection of picture books. On sunny days, you can find her practicing yoga al fresco and on rainy days, curled up on the sofa with her two guinea pigs, Pinky and Perky.

Jane Massey studied graphic design at Kingston University. She worked for several design agencies in London and Hong Kong before concentrating on illustration. As well as producing numerous children’s books, Jane has also created illustrations for advertising, greetings cards, and packaging. Jane lives by the sea in Hove, England with her young family.CN

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