Awarded An Oppenheim Toy Portfolio
2001 Gold Award.
From School Library Journal:
From the Artic to the savannah, six animal
babies–and one little child–are tenderly
assured of the many ways in which they are
special. In this heartwarming companion to her
bestselling I LOVE YOU, LITTLE ONE, Caldecott
Honor medalist Nancy Tafuri's charming text
and warm inviting watercolors celebrate the
appreciation and love all parents feel for
their special little ones. "A tender read-aloud...a
peaceful and beautifully drawn bedtime story."
From Booklist:
PreS-Gr. 1. Caldecott Honor artist Tafuri zeroes in on a desire all young ones share: to feel special. She begins, "On a hot savannah / under a shady tree, / a lion cub asks, 'How am I special?'" The cub's parents reply in unison that it's his golden coat and resounding purr that distinguish him, and they reassure him in the book's refrain: "you are so special, / and we will love you / forever and ever and always." The same scenario repeats with other animals, including a prairie dog pup (keen eyes, powerful legs); a lark youngling (yellow feathers, cheerful song), and finally, a young child (warm heart, curious mind). Tafuri's colored-pencil-and-watercolor art fills the oversize pages, depicting tranquil panoramas of various animal habitats as well as plenty of cozy close-ups of parents and children snuggling. Young children will be comforted by the text's rhythmic reassurances.
From Kirkus Reviews:
This companion to I Love You, Little One (1998) reads like a love song. Each page repeats the query of a young animal to his mama and papa: "How am I special?" Each set of parents adoringly proffers the wee one's unique qualities, always culminating with, ". . . you are so special, and we will love you forever and ever and always." Illuminated in both text and art is the profound relationship between offspring and parent. The lion cub is reassured and the penguin chick is nuzzled. Tafuri draws her flora and fauna in gentle strokes and includes striking details of wildlife and its habitats. This homage to familial love ends with a young boy asking the same question of his parents drawing a parallel among all species. This is also a heartwarming vehicle for expanding vocabulary of animal babies, such as penguin chick and beaver kit. A gratifying read to be shared while cuddling. (Picture book. 2-6)
