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Emma Dodd's Love You Books
Together
This little sea otter loves spending time with his parent — learning new things, playing together, or even just holding each other. In fact, every day this little sea otter spends with his parent is special, just because they are together.
24 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2016
196 people want to read
About the author
Emma Dodd
311 books143 followersEmma Dodd Author/Illustrator
Emma was brought up in Guildford, Surrey, in a family of artists and from as far back as she can remember she has wanted to be an illustrator.
Emma studied Graphic Design and Illustration at Central Saint Martin's School of Art and has worked extensively in advertising, editorial and book illustration.
She was nominated for the Booktrust Early Years Award in 2006 for her book "What Pet to Get" and in 2009 for "Miaow said the Cow"
Emma lives in Surrey with her husband and two children, who provide inspiration for her work, and their Jack Russel Terrier, Bart, who keeps her fit. She likes to spend any spare time in North Cornwall, surfing and walking in all weathers.
Emma was brought up in Guildford, Surrey, in a family of artists and from as far back as she can remember she has wanted to be an illustrator.
Emma studied Graphic Design and Illustration at Central Saint Martin's School of Art and has worked extensively in advertising, editorial and book illustration.
She was nominated for the Booktrust Early Years Award in 2006 for her book "What Pet to Get" and in 2009 for "Miaow said the Cow"
Emma lives in Surrey with her husband and two children, who provide inspiration for her work, and their Jack Russel Terrier, Bart, who keeps her fit. She likes to spend any spare time in North Cornwall, surfing and walking in all weathers.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 109 reviews
August 21, 2017
Adorable illustrations and every page filled with love and feelings.
Such a lovely, delightful and sweet book.
Such a lovely, delightful and sweet book.
October 20, 2016
How does Emma Dodd know what I am feeling? She does it every single time I read one of her books. I sit there going through the pages, tearing up because she connects with her readers so deeply. Otter mommy and baby share daily moments of nature, togetherness, and tender moments. Love, love, love.
May 12, 2017
I cannot believe that another of my reviews has "disappeared." Again. Strange and annoying!
May 12, 2017
Together (Emma Dodd's Love You Books) - Emma Dodd My first thought upon reading a page of this was " it's a greeting card; a particularly charmingly illustrated greeting card."
My second thought was "that's brilliant!" This is stuff many parents are awkward verbalizing to their children: maybe they've never heard an adult say such things to a child, or maybe they know what they want to say but can't find a way to make it into a natural conversation. Parents who want to express their love may have a tremendously hard time imaging a script of what to say, as well as how. This book, and the others like it, provide parents with an easy way to practice saying loving, positive things to their children. Or maybe it will serve as a reminder to those already conversant with affection, a deliberate moment to stop telling the child how to behave or what to do, but just take a moment to appreciate the closeness.
Reading aloud to my kids was a huge priority for me. I read compulsively, so no surprise, but it became a whole rich, shared experience. Going to the library once a week, the bookstore from time to time, book fairs, book sales, a special children's book-signing, they were activities we could share the way other families might share a particular sport. I tried to never skip those nightly readings, and I let them choose the books, and yes, that meant reading a lot of drivel I couldn't stand, and abandoning books that weren't working, and the seemingly endless recitation of favorites. But look at what I have now: two adults who still love reading for fun, who enjoy reminiscing about past reads, and suggesting new ones, and talking about books and talking about everything else.
Really, it's all about snuggling close and saying "I love you" over and over and over again in as many different ways as we can find.
So yes, it's a lovely greeting card, and a reminder to actually say out loud how much love you have. Every new parent needs some books like this, almost as much as they need diapers.
Library copy.
My second thought was "that's brilliant!" This is stuff many parents are awkward verbalizing to their children: maybe they've never heard an adult say such things to a child, or maybe they know what they want to say but can't find a way to make it into a natural conversation. Parents who want to express their love may have a tremendously hard time imaging a script of what to say, as well as how. This book, and the others like it, provide parents with an easy way to practice saying loving, positive things to their children. Or maybe it will serve as a reminder to those already conversant with affection, a deliberate moment to stop telling the child how to behave or what to do, but just take a moment to appreciate the closeness.
Reading aloud to my kids was a huge priority for me. I read compulsively, so no surprise, but it became a whole rich, shared experience. Going to the library once a week, the bookstore from time to time, book fairs, book sales, a special children's book-signing, they were activities we could share the way other families might share a particular sport. I tried to never skip those nightly readings, and I let them choose the books, and yes, that meant reading a lot of drivel I couldn't stand, and abandoning books that weren't working, and the seemingly endless recitation of favorites. But look at what I have now: two adults who still love reading for fun, who enjoy reminiscing about past reads, and suggesting new ones, and talking about books and talking about everything else.
Really, it's all about snuggling close and saying "I love you" over and over and over again in as many different ways as we can find.
So yes, it's a lovely greeting card, and a reminder to actually say out loud how much love you have. Every new parent needs some books like this, almost as much as they need diapers.
Library copy.
Read
January 25, 2018This book is about two otters that have a wonderful day together. It is a mother and her baby. They do so many things together. They swim, they hold on to each other, they lay in the sun, they even learn something new! In the end, the mother talks about how her favorite memories will be the days that she has with her little baby otter.
I thought this book was really cute and had a very cute story line.
I would use this in a classroom to talk about their favorite memories and maybe days that they have spend with their mom or dad.
I thought this book was really cute and had a very cute story line.
I would use this in a classroom to talk about their favorite memories and maybe days that they have spend with their mom or dad.
February 22, 2017
Every page, every sentiment is true - this is how parents experience life with their children!
February 7, 2019
This is a sweet book, and I like the shiny foil details on the illustrations!
July 20, 2020
Sooo sweet - a little book about a parent otter and baby otter spending their days together. It would be a great new baby gift! George got it for his birthday with a stuffed otter that is legit the softest thing I’ve ever touched.
February 23, 2017
Incredibly adorable illustrations with a heart melting theme: when I spend time with you, my little one, those are my best days. I need to read this book often as a wonderful reminder of the precious time I have with my little people.
February 8, 2017
and when I think about the days that I will love forever..
..the ones I will remember are...
..the ones we spent together..
June 9, 2017
The digital illustrations in this series are cool, with their reflective, metallic surfaces, but the text is sickly-sweet: that type of over-wrought, "my-child-you-are-perfect-and-I-love-everything-you-do" kind of writing that is now just a cliche to buy for new mothers (who, I doubt, will truly feel that all of their troubles have just flown away, as another book in this series suggests).
March 22, 2017
A sweet little rhyme for a baby that really deserves a three for overall complexity and originality... but the adorable illustrations tip this book just over into the four range. All of Emma Dodd's books in this series are adorably illustrated and would make great gifts for new parents.
March 24, 2017
Beautifully illustrated otters, with lovely silver foil detailing. This is a sweet story of a parent's love.
August 3, 2020
Such a sweet book!
September 29, 2017
This little sea otter loves spending time with his mommy, learning new things, playing together, or even just holding each other. In fact, every day this little sea otter spends with his mommy is special, just because they are together.
I had to pick up and read this cute, little picture book by Emma Dodd. The cover’s illustration is so sweet with a parent otter and baby otter holding each other. Not only was this a touching message of the bond between a parent and their child, but shows how it can be more than enough to spend time together in nature. It was a delight to see the silver shininess that was used throughout the book that kids will sure love too. The rhyming text added to this great picture book!
I had to pick up and read this cute, little picture book by Emma Dodd. The cover’s illustration is so sweet with a parent otter and baby otter holding each other. Not only was this a touching message of the bond between a parent and their child, but shows how it can be more than enough to spend time together in nature. It was a delight to see the silver shininess that was used throughout the book that kids will sure love too. The rhyming text added to this great picture book!
October 23, 2022
There wasn't much to this story, but the illustrations were lovely. The book presents a day in the life of a mother and baby otter, which involves multiple spreads of the two of them floating in the sea and looking at sunrises and sunsets. At one point they swim, at another they eat from clamshells, and in one spread they run along the shore, but the book is just about them enjoying each other's company over the course of a day. I think the story would have worked just as well (probably better) as a wordless picture book as the rhyming text gave nothing to the story (to my mind almost detracting from it as it wasn't great). Lovely artwork though and an opportunity for my toddler to see cuddling otters!
October 25, 2018
Not explicitly about going to bed, but it's definitely an end-of-day, wrapping things up kind of book.
The story is about a baby otter and an adult otter. There's no gender mentioned for either. The adult could be parent, grand parent, or other special adult.
I love the metallic silver on the pages that make the waves sparkle.
This is a perfect way to talk about how much you (a grownup) enjoy spending time with your little.
There are relatively few words, so it's a good book to read with a young one.
A great baby shower gift.
The story is about a baby otter and an adult otter. There's no gender mentioned for either. The adult could be parent, grand parent, or other special adult.
I love the metallic silver on the pages that make the waves sparkle.
This is a perfect way to talk about how much you (a grownup) enjoy spending time with your little.
There are relatively few words, so it's a good book to read with a young one.
A great baby shower gift.
September 13, 2019
Together is a sweet, yet short tale of two otters who do everything together. These otters are a mom with her child and the book is told from the mother otter's point of view. It goes through an otter's typical day and is a wonderful story about their bond.
This book was super cute! While it wasn't my absolute favorite, I love the mother child bond this book shows! Cute, sweet, and straight to the point, a definite read for mothers to their young children.
In a classroom setting, this book could be used to teach about otters or family.
This book was super cute! While it wasn't my absolute favorite, I love the mother child bond this book shows! Cute, sweet, and straight to the point, a definite read for mothers to their young children.
In a classroom setting, this book could be used to teach about otters or family.
August 7, 2017
A touching simple story with incredibly appropriate use of sparkle and shine. "Together" is the perfect book to read to your little otter letting them know just how special all the little moments spent together truly are. Emma Dodd knows how to reach out and touch hearts, both young and younger. We all need to know just how loved we are and this book expresses it perfectly.
The illustrations rock, as well.
Thank you Emma!
The illustrations rock, as well.
Thank you Emma!
September 27, 2022
Powerful simplicity.
I love that a theme of this story is how important and fun a day was for the parent to spend with their child. It teaches the importance of spending time together and creating shared memories. I think it important for kids to know that they are a positive influence on their parents and vise versa.
Though the story is about a parent and child, ant two relationships can easily be mirrored in this story.
I recommend this short read to all.
I love that a theme of this story is how important and fun a day was for the parent to spend with their child. It teaches the importance of spending time together and creating shared memories. I think it important for kids to know that they are a positive influence on their parents and vise versa.
Though the story is about a parent and child, ant two relationships can easily be mirrored in this story.
I recommend this short read to all.
September 26, 2025
A lovely book about a parent and child spending the day together and learning from each other. At the end the parent says that they will always remember the days spent together as their favorites.
Great series and great illustrations. I want to give the whole series to my teenage daughter as messages and advice as she travels through life. They are just beautifully positive messages to give to a child regardless of their age.
Great series and great illustrations. I want to give the whole series to my teenage daughter as messages and advice as she travels through life. They are just beautifully positive messages to give to a child regardless of their age.
June 22, 2017
The illustrations steal the show with this simple picture book. They are the most adorably illustrated parent and baby sea otter ever and have a silvery quality to them that is mesmerizing. Otherwise, it is a very basic story about a parent and baby spending a day together. Good for toddlers and up.
January 31, 2018
I loved this book! The story is about a baby otter that enjoys spending time with his parent. I loved the illustrations, the colors pop right out at you! It really teaches the reader that they should be thankful for each day they have with their loved ones.
This book would be good to read right before mothers or fathers day.
This book would be good to read right before mothers or fathers day.
January 25, 2019
Super sweet story that talks about emotions (dreamy, joyful) as well as great word choice book. 1st grade-3rd grade could use this book for writing lessons. It could work in a storytime possibly talking about emotions. It's short and sweet and adorable.
This book could make a great gift to a child.
Also, the shimmeriness on the pages and cover was an extra awesome touch.
This book could make a great gift to a child.
Also, the shimmeriness on the pages and cover was an extra awesome touch.
January 13, 2020
This is one of my favourite books to read to my son at the end of the day. The rhymes create a nice cadence and it reinforces the idea that your child is very much loved by you. A sweet and sentimental book, but not so sentimental that it will have you in tears (well, maybe just a little). The book is short with sturdy pages so little hands can help turn them.
October 17, 2023
Until babies complete learning about separation from a parent, a supreme value is BEING TOGETHER. Just like the otter parent here with its baby otter.
Here's a happy, happy storybook that celebrates togetherness. This could be very reassuring to a two-year-old.
Well done, Emma Dodd. FIVE STARS for this one.
Here's a happy, happy storybook that celebrates togetherness. This could be very reassuring to a two-year-old.
Well done, Emma Dodd. FIVE STARS for this one.
May 31, 2017
An adorable book with cute pictures. My daughter enjoyed seeing the baby otter with the parent. Younger children will love this book and parents will enjoy it because it doesn't have many words. Would recommend.
January 25, 2018
This book was about a parent and her child spending the day together. I might would want to use this book to explain the bond between and parent and their child. However, I think it would fit best as an at home read.
September 10, 2018
This book was so precious! Mommy and baby otter spend all of their time together, enjoying nature and the world around them, and loving each other every moment! Aww the feels. I especially loved the illustrations, with the pretty metallic accents on every page! Gorgeous!
May 12, 2021
Read at Storytime on May 12, 2021
Theme: Emma Dodd
Beautifully illustrated story of the love a parent has for their child through the course of a day. Sweet illustrations and metallic splashes on each page add to the text wonderfully.
Theme: Emma Dodd
Beautifully illustrated story of the love a parent has for their child through the course of a day. Sweet illustrations and metallic splashes on each page add to the text wonderfully.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 109 reviews