Always By My Side: A Stuffie Story

by Jennifer Black Reinhardt

A celebration of the special connection that exists between a young child and their comfort stuffed animal.

Follow a little boy as he gradually outgrows the need for the constant presence for his comforting companion--a stuffed green dinosaur. But as the stuffed animal narrates, none of us grow out of loving our favorite toys, and, perhaps, they never stop loving us back. When you need a loving hug, or a cuddle of reassurance, or just someone to play with, fuzzy creatures big and small, short and tall, will always be your friend.

Genres: Picture Books, Friendship, Love, Fiction, Storytime, School, Emotion

40 pages, Hardcover

Published March 16, 2021

About the author

I grew up in a cozy town in the mountains of Pennsylvania, surrounded by creative artists and quirky collections. My mother was an artist and her mother was an artist (and now my daughter is an artist!). It wasn’t until I was a high school student that I realized that not everyone had an art studio as a required room in their home. I always wanted to illustrate picture books and maybe even get to write AND illustrate them. So, I went to art school and graduated from Carnegie Mellon University with a degree in Illustration.

After working at advertising agencies and honing my skills at now obsolete design technology, I went on to have my artwork featured as best selling calendars, humor books, needlepoint kits, collector plates, and a Louie Award winning line of greeting cards.

I’ve had my childhood dream come true and have been able to write and illustrate several books for children including; (March 2025) Moving Day, written by Teri Roche Drobnick and published by Margaret Ferguson Books / Holiday House, Always by My Side, which I wrote and illustrated and published by Random House, Playing Possum, which I wrote and illustrated (Clarion Books, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt), Fishtastic! written by Tess Weaver and published by the University of Iowa Press, Gondra’s Treasure, written by Newbery award winning author Linda Sue Park (Clarion Books, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt), Sometimes You Fly, written by Newberry award winning author, Katherine Applegate (Clarion Books, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt), Blue Ethel, written and illustrated by me and published by Margaret Ferguson Books, Yaks Yak (Clarion Books, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt) written by Linda Sue Park, The Inventor’s Secret; What Thomas Edison Told Henry Ford (Charlesbridge Publishing) by Suzanne Slade, Rabbi Benjamin’s Buttons (Charlesbridge Publishing), by Alice B. McGinty, and The Adventures of a South Pole Pig (Harcourt Children’s Books, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt), written by Chris Kurtz.

I’ve traded the majestic mountains of Pennsylvania for the for the soft whisper of the midwest prairie. I now live in Iowa City, Iowa where I happily work in my comfortably messy studio. Doesn’t everyone have studio in their house?

Reviews

[Melki · Rating 4 out of 5]

A boy and his stuffed dinosaur discover how wonderful and comforting it can be to have a forever friend around all the time. I love that you never really learn who is the narrator - the boy or the toy.



It's a great big AWWW of a story.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

A stuffed dinosaur provides reassurance and support for a boy as he grows up, easing fears about the dark, the first day of school, and all that is unfamiliar. Even as the boy outgrows his need for his stuffed toy, the toy remains loyal, waiting patiently for his return from his latest adventure in case he wants to spend time together. The story is told from the point of view of the stuffed animal, and with its expressive eyes and whimsical facial expression, readers would swear that he's alive. Reading this picture book aloud to youngsters will provide them with reassurance that their stuffed animals will always be there to comfort them when it's needed and that they exist to provide a listening ear for secrets that won't ever be revealed to anyone else. I suspect that there will be many adult readers who will love this one for the memories it brings back from their own childhood or from their experiences watching their little ones grow up.

[Read Ribbet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reinhardt's book reminds a young child that their favorite stuff toy will always be there even when they are apart. It's actually a beautifully written story reminding all of us that those we love will always be there even when we are not physically together.

[Andi_banandi · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's about a stuffed animal watching its child. The child starts growing up. There was a point I was totally expecting it to go Toy Story and the kid stops playing with the stuffie all together, but then the boy came back. It felt like the book was trying to avoid that sadder narrative.

[Ł e X I E · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is adorable.

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I believe that most people will relate to the story, probably more than the children they are reading it to! Cute illustrations.

[Lisa D]

What a cute book! Loved it!

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brought back memories of my youngest and her Snuggle Bunny (which she still has at 34)

[Diana · Rating 4 out of 5]

little boy has his green with pink polka dots stuffie by his side. very sweet

[Elisabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars.

[Pinky · Rating 4 out of 5]

A stuffie watches their child grow up.

[Alice · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars for this sentimental story about the faithfulness of a stuffy

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a sweet book about a boy and his stuffie, and also about their friendship.

[A. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sweet, but maybe a little more of an affirmation for the parents than the kids who cling to lovies?

[Heydi Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

This would be a great addition to a stuffed animal sleepover storytime. This would pair well with The Adventures of Beekle by Dan Santat and Knuffle Bunny by Mo Willems.

[Y.Poston]

a cute love of stuffed animals tale

[parth shah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful and touching :)