I LOVE YOU BECAUSE YOU'RE YOU

Liza Baker, , illus. by David McPhail. . Scholastic/Cartwheel, $9.95 (32pp) ISBN 978-0-439-20638-9

A mother fox's affection for her little one is played out in greeting-card sentiments and McPhail's (If You Were My Bunny) winning artwork. Reassuring quatrains ("I love you when you're sad/ and need a kiss and hug./ I love you when you're playful/ and rolling on the rug") convey her unconditional love. McPhail's cozy watercolor illustrations offer tangible examples of the child's many moods, as when the "bashful" youngster hides behind the mother's knee as guests arrive, or gazes up at her when presenting her with a valentine ("I love you when you're proud,/ your head held in the air"). In this warm and fuzzy hug of a book, a parent's love knows no bounds. Ages 3-6. (Oct.)

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