Love me, love you

PreS-A celebration of the loving relationship between toddler and parent, told through a conversation between a young rabbit and its mother. O'Keefe's brief text bounces along in a convincingly childlike way, and the rhyming refrain will encourage even the youngest listeners to chime in. Activities and items cataloged are perfect for the intended audience and include a favorite teddy bear, a messy meal, a splashy bath, and a peaceful nap, among others. Spowart's pastel illustrations allow the paper's pleasingly soft texture to show through while featuring lots of blues, purples, and pinks. Variations in color intensity give the simple, flat outlines the illusion of depth and roundness, adding to the cozy look. Settings are only lightly sketched, with many details left vague. This technique, along with the thin purple line that frames each picture, puts the focus squarely on Mother Rabbit, her baby, and their deep affection for one another. Spowart's ability to evoke emotion with only a few lines strengthens the impact of the simple text. At the same time, the lighthearted narrative keeps the pictures from seeming overly sweet. A charming love song to share again and again.-Lisa Dennis, The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, PA

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