I Love You with All My Heart

A polar bear cub wonders how to measure his mother's love in this enchanting picture book. On a pared-down palette of matte blues and greens reminiscent of the frigid arctic landscape, Kern introduces Polo and his cuddlesome friends, a young reindeer, penguin, seal pup and wolf cub. Each in turn helpfully attempts to describe the expanse of his own mother's love: ""My mother loves me with all her wings,"" says Pinpin the penguin (or ""flippers"" for the seal, ""teeth"" for the wolf). For Polo, none of these responses sounds quite right; in a series of tender, double-page embraces between him and his mother, he seeks from her the appropriate answer. ""Does that mean you love me with all your fur?"" he asks. She assures him that she loves him with that and more. Meanwhile, Kern depicts, in simply detailed illustrations, with visibly textured brushwork, the gradual setting of the sun over the icy horizon; and as the shadows lengthen behind the bear cub's applauding friends, soon Polo slumbers beneath the protective paw of his mother. Kern's playful juxtapositions (at one point, many of the baby animals ride on the wolf's back) and close-up, irresistible hugs are ideally suited to the gentle question-and-answer text. Ages 2-6. (Apr.)