I Love You, Cockatoo!

by Sarah Aspinall

Overview

A laugh-out-loud picture book that says I Love You no matter what!

"I love you, Cockatoo!" says Mama, Papa, and Aunt P.
But little Cockatoo isn't so sure.
What about when he disturbs Mama's morning bath, or wakes Papa up from a nap, or gets breakfast all over Aunt P's clean kitchen floor?

Some might consider Cockatoo a little bit naughty, but moms and dads will see a familiar concern: a need for reassuring love. 
 
Perfectly capturing the energy and humor of an active child, I Love You, Cockatoo is for families who seek to strengthen a child's understanding of unconditional love through an entertaining and fun-to-read-aloud story.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780593327449
Publisher:	Penguin Young Readers Group
Publication date:	12/20/2022
Sold by:	Penguin Group
Format:	eBook
Pages:	32
Lexile:	AD470L (what's this?)
File size:	10 MB
Age Range:	2 - 5 Years

About the Author

Sarah Aspinall grew up in the English countryside with seven siblings and a menagerie of animals. She received her BFA from the Rhode Island School of Design, and has lived and worked in Los Angeles, Boston, New York, Mexico, and Guatamala. A child at heart, she has worked in children's television, theater, and animation. For more information about Sarah, visit her at sarahaspinallcreates.com.

Editorial Reviews

09/01/2022

PreS-Gr 2—Mama, Papa, and Aunt P. assure young Cockatoo that they love him all the time—but the energetic and enthusiastic toddler-aged bird is not so sure. For instance, do they love him when he creates a mess, makes lots of noise, and is grouchy and worn out? After a particularly mischievous afternoon of pushing every boundary, involving a vat of fresh mud soup and a drum solo during nap time, Cockatoo escapes the house and reflects on a nearby branch. He is soon found by his family, and they close the circle by posing to him the same questions he asked earlier. Vibrant illustrations capture the energy and enthusiasm of life with a young child, while the text lends itself well to read alouds for one-on-one or large group sharing. Fans of Emma Dodd's "Love You" series as well as Isabel Otter's "Every Day Together" books will enjoy this raucous and ultimately reassuring read. VERDICT Children and their caregivers will find comfort and encouragement in this sweet story of unconditional love; for story time or classroom use.—Olivia Gorecke

School Library Journal

2022-09-14
To err is…bird.

With crayon scribbles on the wall and toys strewn about, little Cockatoo appears very energetic. When his mama says how much she loves him, he questions: “Even when I’m grumpy and tired?” “Even when you’re grumpy and tired,” Mama confirms. Papa and Aunt P also say how much they love him. But when Cockatoo dresses as a pirate and interrupts Mama’s bathtime and tracks mud through the house just when Aunt P is sitting down to have a delicious treat, their admonishments make Cockatoo feel less than loved. “Maybe Mama, Papa, and Aunt P didn’t love him ALL of the time after all?” Through comfort and snuggles, plus admitting their own mistakes (“Do you still love me even when I forget to put raisins in your porridge?” Aunt P asks), Cockatoo realizes their love will never end. Some adult readers may wish that it was made clear that one can love someone but not love their actions. Regardless, for young tots searching for reassurance, this family of cockatoos has overflowing affection. Illustrations featuring vibrant colors—dominated by pinks and yellows—portraying an adorably anthropomorphic avian family make the love palpable. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

By turns funny and deeply heartening. (Picture book. 3-5)

Kirkus Reviews