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How Do I Love You

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Now, for the first time, How Do I Love You? is available in the popular small boardbook format. The lyrical meter and simple rhyme makes this "love poem" especially suitable for the toddler age. And the message is simple: Mom or Dad loves the child -no matter what. P.K. Hallinan's delightful cartoon art will bring a smile to children of all ages.

26 pages, Board Book

First published January 1, 1989

3 people are currently reading
152 people want to read

About the author

P.K. Hallinan

87 books34 followers
P.K. Hallinan is the author and illustrator of more than 80 children's books, with over 7,500,000 copies sold worldwide. P.K. first began writing and illustrating 35 years ago when his wife asked him to create a picture book as a Christmas gift for their two young sons.

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5 stars
190 (59%)
4 stars
80 (25%)
3 stars
40 (12%)
2 stars
7 (2%)
1 star
2 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
Profile Image for Jack.
41 reviews
August 18, 2018
This was a book from Auntie. She loves me very much and says the boy in the book looks like me❤️
Profile Image for Michelle Reynoso.
Author 6 books74 followers
May 12, 2018
Used to read this to my son when he was a toddler and now that I'm packing up boxes, I just reread this to him...he's now 14 year's old. It was just as great reading it now as it was then - brings back great memories. Every word is spot-on in this book. Well recommended for youngsters. And still holds up in expressing how much I love my teen too!
9 reviews
November 10, 2018
How Do I Love you? = Como Te Amo? is one of my favorite books to read to my kids. It has that sing song quality that makes it fun to read over and over again. This is a series of bilingual books specially created by Ideals Children's Books that help both parents and children learn to read in two languages. There are even vocabulary words listed in the back to for children to review. I have been reading this book for 9 years, as it was gifted to my first-born daughter.

"How do I love you? Let me count the ways. I love you on your very best...and very worst of days." These simple rhymes pull you right in and offer children a beautiful story about how much parents love them, no matter what. The illustrations are absolutely adorable, fun and relatable for kids and parents, created in watercolor, giving it a dream like quality. I love that some books do not need to be over the top to be loved, and author P.K. Hallinan has written over 80 children’s books. His words are simple enough to be a great option for children just learning to read. They may even be able to "read", like mine, after hearing it over and over. This is a perfect little love note to share with your kids before bed, sending them off to sleep feeling safe and loved.
Profile Image for Mar at BOOKIVERSE .
345 reviews236 followers
April 20, 2018
I don’t know if I could ever write an objective review for this book. But I can try telling you how much it means to me. :) Because this book stole my heart years ago. It’s my heart keeper now.

This book is the simplest, most precise, most adorable, most lovable, most wonderful portrait of how a parent feels about her children. I used to read it to my spawns every night because I was CONVINCED that it perfectly said what I felt for them. Their HUGE smiles told me they were getting the idea.

I treasure this book so much. I cannot recommended enough.

And the illustrations…. Cuteness level off the charts! I just want to eat this little boys cheeks!

Daniela Ark
Bookworm, book bloggerwriter, collector of stories that matter and passionate about diversity and equality [especially feminism!].
email: contactme@danielaark.com
72 reviews3 followers
June 4, 2024
Children's lit, Fiction grades k-2nd

This is a fun-loving story about a child is loved in many different ways. I could see reading this is the classroom if you have a sped student to get the message, we love everyone the same and no matter what. Or maybe with a student who is having some discipline issues. Great story but could have been varied a little.


1,843 reviews18 followers
January 15, 2025
My granddaughter is 6 months old and I love to read so I am hoping that when she grows up she will too. I read to her about a half hour almost every single day. She sits quietly on my lap and listens to the story and looks at the pictures. She seems to enjoy it.

We read this book and she listened and help me turn the pages. She is learning to be careful with books so you don't tear pages.
Profile Image for Andrés.
1,552 reviews
June 25, 2023
Great sentiment that articulates specific ways a parent loves their child. Reminded me of "I love you, Little Pookie," by Sandra Boynton, which was published the same year.
Profile Image for Jennifer Reynolds.
279 reviews13 followers
March 3, 2017
Have had this book for years... Love all my kids and always read this to them
Profile Image for Marlee.
2,017 reviews
September 1, 2016
I must say that though the idea of this book is lovely, I don't like the suggestion that children are ever bad. If I had known there was that line in the book, I wouldn't have read it to my daughter at all. I realize it says that the child is still loved even when he/she is bad. But I would never use that word to describe my children at any time.
1 review
January 30, 2014
Beautiful book! Well written for 1 to 6 years old children. Emphasis is not on "bad." I believe that it is about letting your child know that he is always loved no matter what he is doing. Even when he is sad, angry, tired, clumsy, etc... Well written for children. Directing a child care facility for over 10 years, I recommend this book to parents.
Profile Image for Sara.
2,102 reviews14 followers
January 14, 2014
I came across this as I was looking for kids books for my brother. Since they are expecting twin girls any day now, I feel it's important to start a library for them while they are still in utero. I'm going to be that boring aunt that always buys them books. Poor kids!
Profile Image for Kelly Powell.
196 reviews3 followers
Read
April 13, 2015
This book was a fun take on counting and a story of a mothers love for her child. I liked how the words that were numbers were larger that the rest of the text and were a color. Doing this allowed for the emphasis to show the numbers as you are counting along in the book.
Profile Image for Monica Mckeon.
22 reviews2 followers
February 7, 2008
Cheezey, rhyming book, but if I haven't read it in a long time, the last two pages will make me cry sometimes. I put it out on display every Valentine's Day.
9 reviews
April 25, 2008
We read this every night with Ella-so sweet!
Profile Image for Holly Harris.
36 reviews16 followers
September 2, 2009
If you are a parent -this book says it all. It tells your child how much you love them. It makes me cry almost every time I read it!
Profile Image for Jules.
316 reviews3 followers
December 31, 2009
LOVE this author and his wonderful way with words in many of his books!
Profile Image for Findlay Pennekamp.
125 reviews
February 2, 2012
I really liked this book. It was sweet and fun, and funny, and it made me feel all warm and safe. My parents love me!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews

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