I Love You for You

An adoring guardian narrates this celebration of parenthood and differences. “As you’ve grown I’ve come to realize,/ you have your own unique personality,” Lester writes. Fieldhouse’s illustrations feature diverse families, warm colors, and residual pencil lines that convey a sense of ease. A mother greets a girl in a tutu and rain boots: “You like to dress in bright colors./ I like a more basic style./ We are different in this way,/ but your outfits make me smile.” A father prefers mysteries over the fantasy books his daughter enjoys: “We are different in this way,/ but I’ll always sit with you and read” (the two appear together, shoes off, reading in a comfy chair). The verses can be clunky, and the messaging doesn’t seem geared toward children so much as their parents, but Lester explores the idea that kids are not always like their parents with a gentle touch. Ages 5–6. [em](BookLife) [/em]