Recommended Picture Book for Mother’s Day – If Animals Said I Love You, Mama

IF ANIMALS SAID I LOVE YOU, MAMA

Written by Ann Whitford Paul

Illustrated by David Walker

(Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR); $18.99, Ages 2-6)

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From the Publisher:

A must-have for any nursery! This bestselling series adds another charming picture book that imagines creatures all across the animal kingdom as kiddos showing affection to their mamas – making it the perfect purchase for Mother’s Day and Valentine’s Day or any time of year.

 

Review:

What fun young animals have getting ready to share their love on Mother’s Day! This latest picture book in the popular If Animals Kissed Goodnight series by Ann Whitford Paul and David Walker inspires all the oohs! and ahhs! just like all the previous books have done with a gentle pastel palette, adorable animals, and a lilting rhyme.

 

 

 

Little ones will meet Wombat, Cat, Koala, Quokka, Kookaburra, Magpie, Wallaby, and myriad other animals found in Australia, some better known than others. But Wombat mama and Wombat baby make the most appearances, all delightful, I might add. Whether creating a Mother’s Day card, digging deep into a burrow, or a cute baby thoughtfully waiting for its mama “who moved at a much slower gait,” and finally picking flowers for a colorful bouquet, Wombat Mama and Wombat Baby are an endearing pair.

 

 

 

 

What works especially well is how Whitford Paul has subtly included *factual information that complements her rhyme, such as what the kookaburra likes to eat above. I’d never heard of a quokka (a small wallaby), but now I know that the native Banksia tree provides these marsupials with shelter and sustenance in the south-west region of Western Australia. Are you familiar with the reptile known as a skink?  They can be found throughout Australia. The swooping hawk in Walker’s art is only one of the many predators this lizard must watch out for.

Treat children to a copy of If Animals Said I Love You, Mama, a sweet read that highlights the special mother-baby bond this holiday joyfully celebrates.

*NOTE: My curiosity prompted me to research the flora and fauna info for further details when I described the Banksia tree and quokka.

Follow Ann at annwhitfordpaul.com, and David on Instagram @davidwalkerstudios