All the Things I Love About You (2024)

3.5 STARS
I'm usually drawn to LeUyen Pham's illustrations but I actually wasn't a huge fan here (some of the expressions border too much on caricature for my taste) but I kind of loved the story. The whole, "mommy loves you so much" storyline has been done SO many times, but the humor here just felt so spot-on, and I found myself chuckling and getting warm-fuzzies throughout, especially as a mom-of-boys.

Sweet story. Good mothers and fathers and other caregivers tell their children these things. If you are not telling your children these things, ask yourself why?

Adults who did not have caregivers like this when they were children may feel sad when reading this book.....

My eyes may have welled up at least twice; which is an achievement easily attributed to the picture book because I had just finished an assigned reading and discussion on “The Canon’s Yeoman’s Tale” beforehand. I was so moved by All the Things I Love About You, that I may have let an expletive slip; which is how I tend to punctuate that simultaneity of awe and incredible envy. Fortunately, the daughter was downstairs being 13, probably listening to someone else’s less holy expletive slip.

All the Things I Love About You is beautiful. It isn’t precious and it won’t make the teeth ache. It will be heart-warming and deep-sighing, because LeUyen Pham does not hit one false note. Her sense of humor and impeccable timing helps. She’ll places especially funny moments among the affectionate smiles and those sentiments that catch your heart in your throat. There is this wonderful build-up of emotion using a compound sentence spread across three double-page spreads at the end. Your heart and lungs fill up and then you find there is room for just one more breathe. However, said breathe will not be with you long, because Pham leaves us with the most agreeable ending: the truth these kinds of love letters want to be sure their child understands.

There are a lot of familiar childhood activities, and yet you needn’t identify specifically with each and every thing the mother loves about her child in the book. For instance, N never “skip[ped] the letter “Y” in the alphabet because “Z” [was] so much fun to say.” But it does find correlations. Actually, that is the only part I couldn’t place Natalya’s round-cheeked visage. Natalya was the cutest little bug in her fuzzy footy-pajamas!

The colors, textures, lines, energy, movement, expression (face/body)–I tend to go on about how much I appreciate Pham’s skill as an illustrator. I love her work and I do not think it bias to suggest that her work is highly accessible (read: appealing) to everyone. Her use of the white page focuses attention on legible illustrations and directs their sequence and scale. It does the same for the text. Not only will the adult reader see recognize the mother and child (and father) on the page, but so with the little one(s) snuggling close–if you’ve caught them into stillness (there is a lot of running and chasing in the book, too).

L (omphalokepsis)
http://contemplatrix.wordpress.com/20...

I absolutely LOVE this book!! It is such a great book for reading to young children, especially for parents to read to their children. When parents read this book to their children, it shows the children that no matter what they do wrong or how much trouble they get into, their parents still love them in so many ways.

Activity extension: Have a class discussion about all the different kinds of feelings such as happy, sad, mad, etc. Afterwards you would have sad, happy, mad, excited (or any other you want to add) faces on plates and the children can hold the face up to show how they are feeling.

Looking at LeUyen Pham's illustrations in All the Things I Love About You is like visiting (what I imagine are) her memories of watching her own little boys grow up. It's a treat to vicariously experience these events... these flashes of moments in time that are so significant to a mother. Makes me selfishly and curiously wonder what my mother's memories of watching me grow up must have been like and how they must have made her feel. A treat of a heartfelt read.

So reassuring and sweet, this book is a litany of things that a mother loves about her son...from how he looks in pajamas to how he hugs her---and other things that he does that she loves. A hint of humor in the title helps balance the title from warm and fuzzy vs. absolute tearjerker (although I found myself a bit misty-eyed as the book concluded). Illustrations are quirky and wonderful. Sweet for a lapsit...one to be shared over and over and over as an affirmation of a mother's love.

The concept of the story isn't anything new; it's about how much a mother loves her son. But I think young children of mixed race, in this case Caucasian and Asian, can get excited about the fact that they are seeing someone who looks like them. It seems like a small thing but representation is important and it's great to see kids get excited about books because they immediately see themselves in the character(s).

Adorable!

This is a wonderful book to read with your toddler! It celebrates who he is "right now."
All the cute, crazy, messy, energetic things he does are part of the precious package that makes him special, and every single part is loved!
The illustrations are perfect for this story, and right on the money!
I highly recommend this book!
Read it often. I bet you enjoy it as much as your little boy does!

This is a great story about a mother's love. She loves everything about her little boy. In my 1st grade class the students wrote letters to their parents to express everything they loved and appreciated about them. This book could have been used to introduce that lesson and serve as an example of how to write their individual letters.

I loved this book so much that it inspired me to write a poem for my boyfriend on the things I love about him. The book is sweet, precious, and adorable. The art is also adorable and wonderful. Overall the book is heartwarming and really relatable.

I.Love.This.Book.
What a beautiful tale of mamas and sons and all the beautiful and sweet things that make them special.

Very, very sweet and heartfelt. Lovely illustrations.

This is Byron’s (and mamas) favorite book at the moment. The dedication, “For all those many mamas who love their little boys, this book is just for you.” Seriously, we are in love with this book, and it may be one we will buy, to have with us always. Love everything about this book! Heart eyes for days.

So so so so sweet. Boy mamas, this will melt your heart. Pham is one of my favorite illustrators and her chubby little boy is perfect in this story! My son LOVED reading this with me and requested it multiple nights in a row.

This book talks about how much a mother loves her son. Although the story is heartwarming it concerns me about adding it to my classroom as all students come from different backgrounds that might not be as loving as the characters'.

Such a sweet tale of love for a child. Makes me want to cuddle with my girl.

Wonderful story and so heartwarming. This would make the perfect gift for new parents.

A mom reviews all of the things she loves about her baby, from the way his hair looks in the morning to the way he says, “Mama!” A perfect “I love you” book for mom to read to her little one.

This is the sweetest story of a mother's great love for her little boy as he grows, explores, and learns. Wonderful expressive illustrations, some comical to say more of what the words mean.

Recommended with Caution[return][return]The story is narrated in the first person. The narrator lists all the ways she loves her son. From putting pajamas on, to eating, to playing. There are a few pages with dad (and a cringing mom – which made me chuckle).[return]The story has a very personal feel. You can tell the author is writing about her own feelings towards her little boy. It’s almost like a scrap book. The drawings in the book resemble the actual author/illustrator. I think parts of the book would appeal more to the moms reading the book than to the children. The author definitely conveys they way moms feel towards her children. The story is cute and real. The drawings are fun and whimsical. I particularly liked the simplicity of the drawings – but then there was a fabric like pattern on just about every page. It’s a pop of something different on every page. Children will enjoy looking for those.[return]I think, generally, this book would be good for one-on-one reading. Ultimately, you just get the feeling that it would actually be best suited for a mom reading it to her son. Which is good, but it limits the appeal a bit. This book is more suited to a public library than a school library.

If you know me at all, you know I LOVE illustration. Especially book illustration. Especially storybook illustration. So, I do this thing where I find an illustrator I love and I get every book of theirs I can get my hands on. I immerse myself in their art. I gather little tidbits of their lives from the back jacket blubs. I look and look and look. And, I discover new authors that way.

Illustrator LeUyen Pham also wrote this book and I'd be hard pressed to say whether her writing or art is better. Good thing I don't have to pick. She dedicated this book to mothers of sons and it is a love letter to her own two sons. This book is a beautiful reflection of a mother's heart.

he book is dedicated "For all those many mamas who love their little boys!" And those mamas will enjoy reflecting on the many things they love about their child-- the way his hair sticks up in the morning, the way he looks in pajamas and the way he hugs like this...and this...and this!

But it's the illustrations that make this a fun read as mom tries to wrestle with her son as she's putting on his pajamas, how the little boy makes a mess with his food, how Dad throws him around, and the many instances where the little boy is calling Mama (yes on the toilet, and while she's trying to catch some ZZzz's

This story shows it's young readers the meaning of what goes into unconditional love for another. Also, it can represent someone special in a child's life that will love them no matter what. It's the little things that happen to us daily that build a relationship this strong. The fun illustrations bring the story to life and will keep readers engaged as the little boy gets into all kinds of mischief. This book can be read for many years to come and readers can look back and recount the love they have for different members of their family no matter what their stories may be. This story falls under the Narrative Non-fiction genre.

Oh so sweet. A mama recounting to her son all the things she loves about him. Could easily be a daughter though, with things like:
how your hair looks in the morning
the messy way you eat
the way you call "Mama!"
and how you learn new things and grow everyday

This one almost made me cry, but luckily not quite as sentimental as _Someday_.

I saw this at the BYU Books For Youhg Readers Symposium and knew I had to get it for my daughter and her son. It captures the essence of mother love. When I gave it to my grandson, he actually asked me to read it twice, and he is not one to sit still for long! So children must like this book, too.

Playful, fun illustrations. I think kids would enjoy it, but maybe for them, I'd give it a three star rating. This one really shines for grownups, though. Pham does a great job capturing the warmth and tenderness of a parent trying to put into words the unconditional love she feels for her child.

Got this at the library yesterday and my kids love it and ask to read it a lot. I love the illustrations, they warm my heart. Shows the mom and son playing together and I think encapsulates the physicality of motherhood. To running, chasing, balancing, cuddling, hugging. So sweet. Might need to buy this one.

A wonderful book that mothers will certainly enjoy reading to little ones (sons or daughters) that has lovely illustrations and text. A very touching book that will certaily be well liked by parents.

Kids won't go crazy for this one though.

The first book about mamas and their boys I absolutely LOVE. My boys enjoy it too. That in itself is pretty amazing. Gorgeous illustrations. Spot on musings on what it is to love your little boy while trying to protect him as he grows and explores.

Just finished read it with my munchkin. Loved reading it, it is very engaging, we enjoyed the experience although we are apart from each other and giggled through it together!! And also shared alot of virtual kisses and hugs!!