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Author/Illustrator: Joost Elffers
Publisher: HarperCollins
Year: 2008
ISBN: 0061667994
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 32
Age Range: Baby, Toddler, Preschooler
Kid Love Factor: 3.5/5
Adult Sanity Factor: 2.5/5
Do You Love Me? is in a rhyming question and answer format between adults and children. Each page has a question, with the answer on the following layout. The graphics are simple and computer-generated, but strangely compelling, with an insecure child and a loving adult of various sorts spread throughout.
Do you love me?
Always, dear.
Do you need me?
Ever near.
It's short. It's sweet. It's brightly-coloured. It's pretty much perfect for snuggling the toddler in your life. And because it's so short, it's not anywhere near as painful to read repeatedly as might otherwise be the case.
Boo always loves the opportunity to answer direct questions, provided you're someone he knows and cares about. He happily answers "Yes!" or "No-oo" in all the appropriate places. He's also (thankfully!) a cuddly little creature most of the time, so he took to snuggling during the book like a champ.
Autism Spectrum Bonus: Do You Love Me? is about expressing fondness, love, and affection. Some little spectrumites may have missed signs of love their parents or caregivers consider obvious; this book, along with some explanation, might help clarify matters. The "Hug me, hold me, snug and tight. Snuzzle closer, kiss goodnight" section at the end might also help garner you a little extra cuddly affection if there aren't too many sensory issues in the way. If there are, the 'snuzzle', what I would have inaccurately (and politically incorrectly in Canada) called an "Eskimo kiss" as a child, might give an extra affection-displaying option you haven't previously considered trying.
Bottom Line:
Would you read me?
Often here.
Links:
I'll have to revisit this with my son. When I tried to read it with my daughter a year ago, she really didn't like it. Not sure if it was the illustrations but something did not appeal to her. Maybe it is better for younger children?
ReplyDeleteI can't imagine it'd be entertaining much beyond about age 3, with younger toddlers liking it better. Unless maybe the child was in a mood requiring extra cuddling.
ReplyDeleteBoo liked it while we had it out from the library but I'm not sure it would have become a long-term winner if we owned it.