Mama Loves You So

Why It's On Our Shelf

Each page shows a different way a mother animal loves her baby, from holding to teaching to protecting. The format makes it easy to add in your own family's specific expressions of love, which is a nice touch. The illustrations by Melissa Nishikawa are soft and comforting without being overly sweet. What I appreciate is that it shows love as action, not just feeling - these mothers are doing things to care for their babies, which helps children understand what love looks like in practice. It's a good bedtime book because it ends on reassurance, but it also works for any time a child needs to hear they're loved.