Candlewick Press kiddie Valentine books: "Love ABC" & "How My Family Says I Love You" ❤️

Love ABC (Series: Jannie Ho’s ABCs) Illustrated by Jannie Ho

ISBN: 9781536246698
Board book $8.99 US
Candlewick Press

My thoughts:  Adorable. Simple. Charming. This intro to learning the ABC's exudes sweetness and gentle love. In addition to familiar words associated with books about ABC's, this little book brings words of emotion, relationship, and action such as "adore," "dance," "friend," "us," "joy." So go beyond the typical "cat, dog, zebra" words and discover more with the young child.

Delightful book.

About the book: Express your love with this colorful, stylish, and sturdy ABC board book for babies and toddlers. A is for adore, B is for balloon (heart-shaped, of course), and C is for cupcake! This sturdy board book introduces Valentine’s Day through simple words to get children excited about celebrating love with friends and family. This is the perfect book to teach letter recognition and introduce first letter sounds in speech.

How My Family Says I Love You by Yvonne Sewankambo & illustrated by Aurore McLeod

ISBN: 9781536244991
Picture book $18.99 US
Candlewick Press

My thoughts:  This is a story about a lovely, loving dark-skinned family who shows they love one another by deeds of love. 

This sweet stroll through family relationships with day to day acts of loving kindness tell the story of love within family bounds. Grandparents are shown to play a role in the lives of children and are loving referred to as Jajja's which is a Ugandan term of endearment for grandparents. 

This is a delightful book and a joy to see love and kindness beautifully expressed, and it will surely teach our children to think of ways to say "I love you" in their day-to-day activities.

The author's "thank you" at the beginning of the book gives appreciation for his family showing him what family means, and the illustrator for "her big-hearted Guadeloupean family." The author's flypage information indicates she is a Ugandan Canadian writer. Regardless of their land-of-beginnings, this is a beautiful tribute to loving family relationships.

About the book: How do you say “I love you” without saying “I love you”? For one big family, it’s woven into the fabric of every day in this tender, resonant picture book.

My sister Nalu braids my hair every week.

It’s how she says “I love you.”

Tendo always races his sister to the finish line as they leave the house. Kira the dog greets her at the door with a wagging tail and a spin. Sometimes it’s Auntie Linda pulling her into her wheelchair for a hug, or Uncle Alex bringing his funny parrot for a visit. One jajja teaches her granddaughter how to make the chicken dish she learned as a child; another tells stories from far away, before she was born. Whether it’s Mom asking if she’s hungry a hundred times a day, or older siblings scaring away the monster that keeps her awake, the refrain “I love you” comes through loud and clear—and reminds us that there are countless ways to express affection to those that we hold dear.

DISCLOSURE: I received complimentary copies of the books to facilitate a review. Opinions are mine, alone and are freely given.