Simple children's book. ( )

I think the book would be great for lower elementary schools. It reminds me of a poem-based book that gives a simple message that you are loved. It is simple and very engaging with the bright and colorful images that the illustrator creates for us to follow along with. ( )

Actor Taye Diggs pens a love letter from an absent father to his much-cherished child in this third picture-book, following upon his Chocolate Me! and Mixed Me! Using the formula, "I Love You More Than...", his narrator emphasizes just how treasured the child-recipient of this letter is, and just how much he, the father, enjoys spending time with his child.

Although much in sympathy with the end goals of Diggs' previous two picture-books - namely, to inculcate a sense of self-worth in children who have been the target of bullying and racism, either because of their dark skin, or because they are mixed race - I thought them somewhat lacking, from a textual, narrative perspective. Similarly, although I did find I Love You More Than... to be a sweet reassurance tale, one intended specifically for a group of children that particularly need it - i.e.: those living apart from their fathers - the text struck me as being somewhat poorly constructed. The accompanying artwork by Shane W. Evans, who illustrated Diggs' two other books as well, is colorful and appealing, although I didn't particularly care for the two-page spread featuring an entire wall of shoes (it reminded me of the stories of the conspicuous consumption of Imelda Marcos that I heard as a girl, and is no more appealing in a man, than in a woman). Leaving that aside, this is one that might hit the mark, if one cares for the text, and if one is in the market for a reassurance story for young children who do not live full-time with their fathers. ( )

This was a very sweet book. I feel like the book was repetitive, but repetition is good for children. It helps them to remember things. It was very interesting how the parent stayed that he loved his child more than something and then stated that he enjoyed doing those things with his child. This book appears to only have a father and child mentioned in the book, which is very rare, but good. It is good for children to be exposed to the different types of family dynamics.

The writing model that could be used for this book is to ask the children to describe activities you do with your family and how you feel when you are away from each other. ( )