I SURE DO

As Demers’ rhyming text suggests, love occasionally makes parents say ridiculous things: “I great big meal and tiny snack you.” It also stirs overpowering emotions (“And on each clock / My favourite minute / Is every one / That has you in it”). Some of the book’s sentiments are a bit cliched—“And every year / my love lasts longer // And every week / my love grows stronger.” Others are entirely original—and more than a bit goofy: “I sure do love you / Yes, I adore you // And I a window / And I a floor you.” The text is silly, sweet, and easy to identify with; children will find it appealing. The meter is occasionally off by a beat, making certain pages clunky when reading aloud. Nevertheless, the book’s brevity makes it ideal for short attention spans or when parents are looking for “just one more book” before bedtime. Leung’s muted, autumnal hues lend a quiet note to this portrait of a loving family, while familiar parenthood moments—checking on a sleeping child, reading together—make this a relatable book that will resonate equally with caregivers and youngsters. One of the parents has short brown hair; the other has black hair like the youngster; all three are tan-skinned.