I Love You More Than . . .

by Taye Diggs, Shane W. Evans (Illustrator)

My child.

I am not always with you
as much as I'd like.

But you are always in my mind
and my heart.

Some families look different than others. A father who doesn't live full-time with his son tells him all the ways he misses and loves him.

Perfect for families who are separated, whatever the circumstances, this message of love underscores the bond between parent and child in ways that little ones will understand.

Genres: Picture Books, Family, Love, Childrens, Storytime, African American, Cultural

32 pages, Hardcover

First published September 18, 2018

Reviews

[Abigail · Rating 3 out of 5]

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. 2.5 Stars.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

The grammar in this bugged me; why did the author choose "but" instead of "and"? Was he trying to use a negative contrast to what he was previously comparing and saying that it was nothing? *sigh* Bothersome

[Hany Adeeb · Rating 3 out of 5]

About love , father's love, what our fathers love us more than everything,
عن الحب ..حب الاب
عن محبة الآباء لنا أكثر من أي شيء آخر

[Andrea · Rating 2 out of 5]

This would be really nice if it were well-done. Was there any editing done to this book? The grammar is super weird. I’m always happy to have more African American authors in the mix (SO thankful for Chocolate Me and Mixed Me), but this particular book is not a winner.

[LeeTravelGoddess · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love black father-child books 💚💚💚

this is not a luxury we’ve been gifted with just in general.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

It isn't easy for a child or for a parent when they have to be separated due to jobs or life circumstances. In this small-format picture book, a father tells his son all the activities he loves sharing with him. Relying on the repeated phrase of "I love you more..," followed by the things the father loves to do, but then specifying specific related and shared activities that make that experience even better, the father makes it clear that things are always better when they are together. The message is affirming and reassuring, and the images, created with mixed media--and a dash of love, according to the copyright page--will make readers smile and prompt them to hug a loved one close. Although there's no substitute for time spent together, this book is a gentle reminder that love can cross distances. It's perfect for sharing with youngsters so that they don't feel as sharp a sense of loss or difference from their classmates whose families are close by.

[Cindy Mitchell *Kiss the Book* · Rating 3 out of 5]

I Love You More Than… by Taye Diggs, illustrated by Shane W. Evans. PICTURE BOOK. Feiwel and Friends (Mackids), 2018. 9781250135346

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K, EL (K-3) - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

A dad of color is on a trip, but calls his kid to tell them how much he loves them. He uses the pattern of saying he loves the child more than some activity and then reminding the child how much fun they have when they do that activity.

I always love to see a book with families of color represented, and on top of that, this one has an engaged and tender dad. I didn’t like that the comparisons the author uses for his love were really specific to that family; it just didn’t feel very universal. Universality isn’t always necessary, but since this feels like a goodnight book, I think it is in this case.

Jen Wecker, HS English Teacher
https://kissthebookjr.blogspot.com/20...

[Audrey | WellReadandUndead(ish) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is another reassuring tale about a parent's love for a child. This one comes from the perspective of a father who isn't always around (it's never discussed why), but reassures his child that he loves them more than...insert lots of things he loves but doesn't love as much as his child (i.e. singing, dancing, going to the movies, and eating). The grammar could be a little weird at times, and I could not for the life of me figure out how to read the chalkboard on the page with the pancakes. It read:

ALL - YOU
DAY - CAN
CAKES - EAT

With a stack of pancakes separating the two columns. Other than that, the spreads were imaginative and played with direction, and it's nice to see a "I love you more than" type book from a father's perspective, especially one who isn't always present.

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a board book for a child whose parent cannot be with them as much as that parent would like. It tells that child how much that parent loves that child and wishes they could be with them - more than dancing, more than sneakers, etc - but how the parents especially likes dancing WITH the child.

To me, the most unfortunate thing about this is the way the tile and the ellipsis in it work with the very first phrase of the story, so it turns into:
I love you more than... my child
If you are not careful how you read it anyway. So, you've been warned. Be careful how you read it. Put a big pause in there!
This is an important book for families that are forced to be apart from one another for whatever reason.

[Nicola · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lovely picture book for those with seperated/divorced families where the father remains actively involved. For those where it doesn't quite match circumstances (it was simply a random library selection for us) then it can be used to talk about how parents and kids might miss each other during work/school hours etc.

Miss 4 and I like to explore different books and authors at the library, sometimes around particular topics or themes. We try to get different ones out every week or so; it's fun for both of us to have the variety and to look at a mix of new & favourite authors.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a father names each thing that he loves his child more than, he recalls the times the pair have spent together doing those very things. Dancing , singing, eating pancakes, riding the subway. The text and illustrations are playful and warm and depict the loving relationship between a father and child who can’t always be together but make memories they can carry with them when they’re apart. This would make a lovely gift for or from a little one who is separated by distance from loved ones.

[Kelsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Age: Toddler+
All about me: Traveling father
Family: Dad and son

A father recalls all the ways that he loves his son in order to reassure him while he is away. Unique features for this common theme of fatherly love is the inclusion of video chatting (giving it a modern presentation); the illustrations have a softer, airbrushed quality to them; and the son has a large, curly fro with more gender-ambiguous features.

[Ellon · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars (I liked it)

I think this book has a great message/tone. It definitely gets across the idea of love. I actually think it might cross over to the point of being heavy-handed/saccharine.

I could see it being a great book for a kid who isn't always able to be spending time with their father.

I did find the structure of the sentences a little weird. It would go "I love you more than _____ but I love ___________." I dunno, I just felt like the "but" didn't belong.

[Molly Cluff (Library!) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very cute feel-good book with darling illustrations. Mentions all the things the dad/parent loves their child more than (dancing, the beach, etc), but then elaborates that dad loves these things so much better when with his kiddo. I like that the theme of separation is brought in, like maybe a parent working out-of-state.

[Katelynn Daniels · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think that this story would be a great contribution to a classroom library, the story is cute and the illustrations are colorful and depict a unique art style. This book would be really good for any students who have separated families and may not get to see their guardians all the time.

[Kyra Hahn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet picture book about a dad cherishing limited time with his son. Ignore the criticism of the grammar hounds! Great book to include for discussing different kinds of families (traditional, divorced, etc.)

[Jillian · Rating 3 out of 5]

A sweet sentiment for a set of kids (those whose dads aren't always around, for whatever reason) who need to hear that they are loved and adored.
The execution isn't perfect, but I still think it's very nice.

[Peacegal · Rating 2 out of 5]

The execution leaves something to be desired (as other have noted, the flow of the text and word choice are fairly odd), but its heart is in the right place. Would make a nice gift to a child from a parent whose work or life circumstances takes them away from the home frequently.

[Vernon Area Public Library KIDS · Rating 4 out of 5]

A father recalls all the ways that he loves his son in order to reassure the son while he is away. Perfect for children that have fathers that travel or spend lengths of time away from the house.

Reviewed by: Miss Kelsey, Youth and School Services, Vernon Area Public Library

[Colleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kids will appreciate the examples used to illustrate a father's love for his child. I laughed out loud at "I love you more than all my sneakers!" And each thought is illustrated with a related example of what the child can do. It's sweet.

[Michele Knott · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this picture book - perfect for families who are not all together for a variety of reasons. A reassuring book for a young child to hear and perhaps see themselves within.

[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mixed media illustrations accompany lyrical text painting a story of unconditional love between a child and their non-custodial parent.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful.

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Affirming and joyful.

[Riley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sweet but with oddly blurry and haphazard illustrations that honestly....kind of look like they were made in Paint, which is odd because it's Shane W. Evans. Shrug.

[Lisa Boyd · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cute book, very specific to the author's life it seems.

[Felita · Rating 4 out of 5]

A simple telling about love to a child when the parent is not with them.

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Perfect for separated families when kids can't see their dad every day.

[Angie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this message. I loved the pictures they were so beautiful

[Sarah Threlkeld · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sweet story to be shared between a parent and child.