I Love You More Than . . .

by Taye Diggs, Shane W. Evans (Illustrator)

Overview

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.

I Love You More Than ... by Taye Diggs, illustrated by Shane W. Evans, is perfect for families who are separated, whatever the circumstances. Its message of love underscores the bond between parent and child in ways that little ones will understand.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781250865120
Publisher:	Square Fish
Publication date:	04/04/2023
Pages:	32
Sales rank:	1,036,115
Product dimensions:	9.00(w) x 7.95(h) x 0.10(d)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Taye Diggs is an actor whose credits include motion pictures (How Stella Got Her Groove Back, Chicago), stage (Rent, Wicked), and television (Private Practice, The Good Wife, Murder in the First, Empire). He is also the author of Mixed Me! and Chocolate Me!, both published by Feiwel & Friends. He lives in Los Angeles and New York City with his son.

Shane W. Evans is the illustrator of numerous award-winning books for children, including We March, Underground, Mixed Me!, and Chocolate Me! He lives with his family in Kansas City, Missouri, where he also runs an art and community events studio.

Editorial Reviews

"In this affirmation of paternal love by the creators of Mixed Me!, an African-American man addresses his child, lamenting that though “I am not always with you as much as I’d like... You are always running around in my mind and chilling inside my heart.” Pictured more often apart than together—it appears that travel often separates them—the two participate, on facing pages, in analogous activities as the narrator lovingly reminds his child that he’s seen and adored: “I love you more than I love the beach… I love the footprints your little feet make when I’m chasing you through the sand."—Publishers Weekly

"This book is more than just a beautiful love letter from a father to his child, it also provides the reassurance so many children need when they are separated from their parents. ...a true gem." —School Library Journal, starred review


Mixed Me!:

“Mike's unerring sense of self ('I'm a beautiful blend of dark and light') and the powerful love that surrounds him make this a rewarding, valuable read for families of any makeup.” —Publishers Weekly, starred review

“[A] well-written, fun story of acceptance, friendship, and love. The text, colors, and design make this a good choice for read-alouds, but there are many details in the artwork . . . that make it good for one-on-one sharing.” —School Library Journal, starred review

“Mike's confidence in his own appearance and coolness as well as the way he proudly embodies diversity, including a certain level of androgyny, make this a refreshing read. . . . [The] mixed-media illustrations will make readers want to reach out and touch them . . . If all kids had the confidence about who they are that Mike has, what a wonderful world this would be.” —Kirkus Reviews, starred review

“The story's joyful message will resonate with multiracial readers and their families, leaving them with the cheeky takeaway: if you have a problem with me, it's your problem.” —Booklist

Chocolate Me:
"With its universal themes of wanting to fit in, self-acceptance, and self-esteem, this read-aloud offering is sure to strike a chord with many young readers/listeners, and on a variety subjects, not just race." —School Library Journal

From the Publisher

07/23/2018
In this affirmation of paternal love by the creators of Mixed Me!, an African-American man addresses his child, lamenting that though “I am not always with you as much as I’d like... You are always running around in my mind and chilling inside my heart.” Pictured more often apart than together—it appears that travel often separates them—the two participate, on facing pages, in analogous activities as the narrator lovingly reminds his child that he’s seen and adored: “I love you more than I love the beach… I love the footprints your little feet make when I’m chasing you through the sand.” Matching the fluidity of Diggs’s free-association narrative, Evans’s stylized mixed-media art features a fluctuating palette, sinuous movement, and imaginatively loose lines that depict favorite shared experiences such as dancing, movie-going, and tucking into a tall pile of pancakes. A father-child reunion caps this story that imparts a reassuring message: whether or his parents are physically present, this child is deeply loved. Ages 4–8. Author’s agent: Tina Wexler, ICM. Illustrator’s agent: Rebecca Sherman, Writers House. (Sept.)

Publishers Weekly

★ 11/01/2018

PreS-Gr 1—This book is more than just a beautiful love letter from a father to his child, it also provides the reassurance so many children need when they are separated from their parents. It opens with a father in a hotel room waving at a tablet, luggage strewn about the floor and the words "My child" vibrantly standing out against a golden background. On the opposite page, a child of indeterminate gender weeps and holds a tablet while these words appear above: "I am not always with you as much as I'd like." This is not a sorrowful story, though, but one of jubilation. The father comforts his child and says that even when they're not together, his child is in his mind and heart. Diggs uses pattern and repetition to create vignettes that show how he loves the little one more than he cherishes his favorite things and then describes something they do together. For example, the father loves his child more than dancing, although he loves it when they make up dance moves together. Filled with vibrant mixed media artwork, many of the spreads celebrate the bond that exists between this black father and child. Besides dancing, they sing, watch 3-D movies, walk the beach, eat stacks of mile-high pancakes, and ride the subway in New York City. It ends with the dad coming home, arms wrapped tight around the youngster. There is no better feeling than this, and the silliness and joy expressed between the real heartache of missing the one "you love more than everything" makes this a true gem. VERDICT An outstanding first purchase for every picture book collection.—Rachel Zuffa, Case High School, Racine, WI

School Library Journal