Always by Ann Stott, Illustrated by Matt Phelan
I didn’t think I would post anything today, but here I am. Almost 10 pm on a Friday night. How’s that for my social life? I just about had it with my two boys today. My littlest isn’t feeling 100% and my three year old tried to wrestle with him all day. Let’s just say, he didn’t want to wrestle. And we watched far to much TV today (did I say that out loud). As soon as Taylor came in the door, I handed them both over and said I was done. I really can’t blame my attitude on my boys, I think we were all getting stir crazy today. Now that they are both down and asleep, I realized that I really should review Always by Ann Stott and illustrated by Matt Phelan today. Simply because I needed to read it.
Wait. Pause for a moment.
Okay, I just read it again. And my heart is truly touched with this beautiful picture book. It’s the reminder that I needed tonight to step back, calm down, and recompose myself.
In Always, a little boy simply asks, “Do you love me?” Stott then takes us through a series of situations that all mothers could relate to. “Do you love me when I’m gentle? Do you love me when I’m not?” “Do you love me when I’m in my time out chair?” “Do you love me when I use the potty? Do you love me when I don’t?” We’ve been working on this one for what seem’s like a year! “Do you love me when I finger-paint with toothpaste on the bathroom mirror” Or in our case, it was spraying sun tan lotion all over their bedroom wall. The mother at the end tells the little boy that yes, no matter what he does, she will always love him.
I love Matt Phelan’s line drawings. I’m a recent convert of his after discovering him when he illustrated Susan Patron’s The Higher Power of Lucky. These are the type of illustrations that just make your heart ache. Simply wonderful.
Always is a library book. I don’t want to give it back. I want my boys to know that no matter what they do, how much trouble they get into, or how much my patience is lost, that I will always love them. And really, it’s actually not that hard. What’s not to love?
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Category: Book Reviews, Fiction, Picture & Board Books
Tags: A-D Title, female author, Fiction, published 2008, Q-T Author
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Oh, I totally know how you feel. I feel exasperated every day at the kids, two of which aren’t mine. I’m not going to lie, sometimes I feel like a downright monster. I still need to learn a little more patience – okay, a lot more patience.
on April 3rd, 2009 at 11:49 pmWhat a beautiful post, Natasha! I’m sorry you had such a rough day. But I’m glad you were able to enjoy this book, and share that too cute for words picture with us.
on April 4th, 2009 at 12:30 amWhat a beautiful book!
on April 4th, 2009 at 7:33 amI completely understand your frustration..I have a nine year old and a three year old. Each day, I swear I’m losing my mind! I think most of the time our expectations as mother are set too high..I often have to lower mine and just have fun, and not worry about the house being clean all the time, etc.
It is alwaays goodl to know that other mothers are in same place as you. My kids are 11 and 9, and the older one is really becoming a handful. Sometimes she is my little baby girl who wants to snuggle, and 10 minutes later she is rolling her eyes at me and telling me I don’t know what I’m talking about. The question about “do you love me when…” is one I am asked often by my son. It is almost heartbreaking, as I try to explain that I will, no matter what.
on April 4th, 2009 at 9:15 amAw! Sweet post! This does sound like a keeper. Something you could write a note to your boys in that they could read and treasure when they grow up.
on April 4th, 2009 at 6:03 pmWell, I thought I’d finished buying my kids’ books for the Easter Bunny to put in their baskets, but it seems as if I might have to make another trip to the bookstore (darn!
to get this one. We could use this book ’round here. Thanks for the review!
on April 4th, 2009 at 7:36 pmBeautiful review. My kids are all grown up and I miss them. Even the hard days.
on April 4th, 2009 at 8:00 pmAw, wonderful post, Natasha! I think my hardest days as a parent were when my youngest was between 1 and 2 (and the oldest was 4 1/2 to 5 1/2). I remember looking at them asleep at night and wondering how I could possibly have been so fed up with them just a few hours before!
on April 5th, 2009 at 10:32 pmamy BTW M – Oh my, I need patience. But I realize that the times they exasperate me the most is when I haven’t structured their day. If they’ve have nothing to do, then they drive me nuts! Totally my fault.
Amy – Well, really I was wondering when I could use that photo before summer hit us. But it did snow this week.
Jenn – If the house was a disaster then I used to be able to ignore the doorbell but now my little boy runs over and makes tons of noise. So it would seem a little awkward to not answer it. I hate the stress that not having a clean home gives me.
Sandy – I don’t even want to think of my kids as preteens! I do wish they’d stay little forever.
Jen – It would make a beautiful gift for new parents from their parents.
Betty & Boo’s Mommy – I love it when I sell people on books! So happy!
Framed – I should cherish each day I have with them. I’m sure they’ll be out of the house before I know it.
Ali – Thanks! Thank goodness they’re in bed right now. I love them best when they are sleeping!
on April 5th, 2009 at 10:48 pmThis book sounds great, Natasha!
on April 6th, 2009 at 12:35 amBTW, I’ve passed you an award!
That’s a great picture Natasha. Thank you for your review and your story about taking a time out and gaining perspective.
I picked up a copy of Escape the a couple of days ago and I thought about you. I think I first heard about it on your blog.
on April 6th, 2009 at 8:44 pmThat was beautiful. I want to buy that book and read it to my girls. I often am impatient with my little one’s, mostly the five year old because I think she really should know better. I forget though that she really is just a little girl even though she sometimes talks like she is much older. And why does she have to ask why all the time? Or the other one that is driving me nuts right now, is this conversation
Her: Mom?
Me: What?
Her: Um Mom?
Me: What
Her: MOmmm
Me: What!!!
Her: Don’t yell it’s not nice.
We’ve done this lots of times.
on April 6th, 2009 at 10:00 pmMelody – Thanks so much!
Nicole – I really liked Escape! I’m glad that you picked it up. Can’t wait to hear what you think of it.
Cari – Even mine is starting to continue calling my name even though I’ve responded! At least he’s not talking back yet.
on April 7th, 2009 at 1:44 amAww, they’re too cute. I know what you mean though. Sometimes we do little reminders like ‘Always’ to step back and remember that we do love our children madly no matter what.
on April 8th, 2009 at 2:46 pm