Love Can Come in Many Ways

PreS–The tall giraffes gaze at one another while the frog mama sings her baby a song. This interactive lift-the-flap book is a cozy, sweet exploration of the ways love can be demonstrated, from hugs to cuddles to rides on a parent’s back. A simple rhyming text pairs well with colorful and eclectic illustrations. Bold colors help bring the caricature-like animals and humans to life, with accompanying vibrant vocabulary of “twisty trunks” and “tender toothy jaws.” The soft flaps lift, like the ears on an elephant, or mittens for a human hand. While there are more animals than humans, the characters are diverse. Even among the animal families, the parents are drawn in different patterns and colors, helping relay that families come in all varieties. The humans express love that is not necessarily familial, as one touches noses with a pet rabbit and another snuggles a stuffed toy. The message of the story is clear, and love is represented through gestures and acts of kindness.