IF ANIMALS SAID I LOVE YOU, MAMA

With numerous series titles under their belt—among them If Animals Kissed Good Night (2007), If Animals Said I Love You (2017), and If Animals Loved Books (2025)—the creators take the theme in a different direction, geographically speaking, focusing on Australian natives. A wombat, a striped orange cat, a koala, a quokka, a kookaburra, a magpie, a wallaby, a skink, a dingo, a possum, and a kangaroo show their love for their mothers in various ways: making a card, gathering tasty leaves, writing a tender note of appreciation, baking a cake (Mama’s favorite: “beetle-bug cake”), going for a walk with Mama, giving her a rest, and offering her gifts. Of course, just saying “I love you” is also a sure thing! Each gesture is imbued with thoughtfulness and appreciation. Paul’s steady rhymes anchor her sweet sentiments. Round, blue-tinged Wombat takes center stage throughout, backed by an adorable supporting cast of cuddly, soft semi-anthropomorphic creatures brought to life by Walker’s vivid pastels. His watercolorlike illustrations depict a couple of Australian trees as well: eucalyptus and banksia. With its inclusion of Australian fauna, the creators’ latest sets itself apart as it continues to demonstrate the universality of love.