I Will Hold You 'til You Sleep

by Linda Zuckerman, Jon J. Muth (Illustrator)

A book that combines the spiritual (and artistic) appeal of Jon Muth's THE THREE QUESTIONS with the heartfelt emotion of LOVE YOU FOREVER.

Here is the rare book that not only expresses a parent's love for their child, but offers a hope for what that love will become. It begins with a wish at bedtime, as parents hold their children tight and hope their love will cradle them, safe and sound. It continues through the day their children have grown up, proud and strong, and can pass that love on to someone else. This is a book that goes beyond a parent's "I love you" to the generous wish that our children will make the world a better place.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Parenting, Love

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2006

About the author

Linda Zuckerman grew up in Brooklyn and has lived in the Pacific Northwest for almost fifteen years. She has been a children's book editor for more than forty years on both coasts, having held executive editorial positions at several major publishing houses. Linda is the editor of three books that were awarded the Caldecott Medal and two that received Newbery Honor citations. I Will Hold You 'Til You Sleep is her first work as an author. She lives with her husband, an artist, near Portland, Oregon.

Reviews

[Joan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Conveying the overwhelming love of a parent for a child, each page offers a short expression complemented by a lovely, double-page illustration. As the pages turn, taking readers from the birth of a much-loved child through the joys and sorrows of growing up to the ultimate wish each parent has for a child.

A book to be read again and again, a book to be treasured by young and old alike.

Highly recommended.

[Karin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one had the potential to be absolutely amazing. The storyline was tear-worthy and the pictures were enchanting. The prose began as if it was supposed to be poetic, and then it fell short. It didn't flow like I hoped it would. But my kids loved it anyway.

[Miss Clark · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very lovely and creative illustrations but the prose was repetitive and not at all engaging.

[Hannah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very sappy, sweet book

[Kris Dersch · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cheesy and not incredibly deep but way less creepy then these books can sometimes get.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

My four-year-old son picked this book out from the library last week. But I would have if he didn't -- that cover!

I am not a fan of I'll Love You Forever, even after I learned the story behind it. I appreciate the sentiment of that book but it's just too weird and creepy for me. This book captures the sentiment without all the weirdness and creepiness, because the mother lets her son grow up. I can relate to that. I loved my son when he was a baby, but I didn't want him to stay a baby. I loved him when he was a toddler, but I didn't want him to stay a toddler. And now that he is a little boy, I love him as a little boy, but I also want him to grow up and live his own life. These parents do it right.

And the illustrations! The illustrations are gorgeous, dreamy, sumptuous, poignant, without being cutesy or sappy. The illustrations are perfect.

[babyhippoface · Rating 4 out of 5]

A parent expresses her unconditional and undying love for her newborn child as she looks toward their future together. Lovely watercolor illustrations of the growing child and his parents enhance the sparse text that flows with a gentle rhythm. Although this title will hold greater appeal for new parents and grandparents than for children, it does make a soothing choice for bedtime sharing, and would be a nice additional purchase for libraries housing early-childhood parenting collections.

[Erma Talamante · Rating 4 out of 5]

A loving, beautiful book about family and growing up; about how family will always be there for you. A very sweet, emotional read, I felt a tear roll down my cheek as I read the story to my active baby. The only thing I would have wished for would be brighter pictures. The beautiful watercolors were more muted than some of our other favorite books, making this a good library book, but not one for the home collection.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

There is a sweet message conveyed through the pages of this book. From child to adult, the mother says that she will always love him and you see throughout the course of his life how his mother is always there for him. I enjoyed this book and would probably recommend.

*Taken from my book reviews blog: http://reviewsatmse.blogspot.com/2009...

[Dolly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a sweet book filled with loving wishes and dreams from a parent to a child as the child grows up. It's a soothing book and is good for bedtime, but the content is as much for the parent as it is for the child, perhaps even more so. Lovely illustrations create an image of the love between generations that is quite touching; it almost brought me to tears.

[Bethany · Rating 1 out of 5]

Read for 5420 class

The illustrations in I Will Hold You ‘Til You Sleep are beautiful! However, the text is especially jarring to this previous English teacher. Indeed, some pages are run-on sentences, some end in period, some lack any sort of punctuation, some are fragments. It is too jarring for me to want to ever look at the book again.

[Robyn Rosencutter · Rating 1 out of 5]

I read this for my class. It was assigned under the module, "Books Adults Like that Are Not Necessarily Good Books". No kidding. The illustrations are pretty. The story would be okay, but it just isn't written well. It is far too simple. I am not a fan of "Love You Forever" either, but one cannot help but compare the two, and Munsch has a much better book.

[GraceAnne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Linda Zuckerman distills a lifetime of editing and care for language into the pellucid text and Jon J Muth matches it with exquisite watercolors that shape and extend this gentle tale of parental and generational love.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't get through this book without tearing up. If you're looking for a great gift for a new family and want to steer clear of the old standards (ie. M.W. Brown, Pat the Bunny, Munsch's Love You Forever, etc.) pick this up.

[Crystal · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bawled the first time that I read this to my son. Well, and maybe the second time too. Okay, actually maybe it's every time. What kind of sick person writes something like this? Agh!

[Jennie · Rating 5 out of 5]

just a beautiful book

[Tara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet msg, and I really like Jon Muth's art.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

A sweet book that shows a variety of kids and parents throughout their lives and different kinds of kids.

[Annie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gorgeous artwork. Forgettable text.

[LeeAnn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet bedtime read with beautiful illustrations.

[Marg Corjay · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was beautifully written and illustrated. So heartfelt, it can be shared and treasured at every point in your life. Like a warm hug on a chilly day!

[Elisabeth Petty]

This book makes me cry because it's so sweet. It's about loving a child through all stages of life, and a must read for parents.

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

After reading this book many more times, I decided to increase my rating to a 4.

[Little Champs]

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