Picture Books Full of Family Love

 

Disclosure: I was sent copies of these books in order to provide honest reviews. All opinions are my own.

Can you believe Valentine's Day is only a month away? It seems time to start spreading some love and I think our society needs it. Today we are sharing three new picture books that share about family love. One was even released this week! We will start with that one which is Apapacho Love by Cynthia Harmony and illustrated by Erika Meza. It is recommended for ages 4 to 8. 

About the Book:

A gorgeous picture book featuring a Mexican American family that’s as comforting as a warm embrace—great for Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, and baby gifts!

Every day for Luna starts and ends with Mami’s apapachos—hugs that come from Mami’s soul. Her warm cuddles fill Luna's heart, like stars fill the sky. They make her feel safe. They make her feel seen. But, oh no, Mami has to take a trip! What will Luna do without Mami's hugs?

Maybe…apapachos can come from other people, too.

Like Abue’s, which makes Luna feel brave. And Daddy’s, which makes her giggle. Not to mention her dog, Benito’s wet nuzzle which tells her to rise and shine with a smile. It turns out even when Mami’s far away, her love is all around.

Apapacho love is everywhere!

From Me:

This sweet book shares the importance of apapachos which are hugs. The young girl, Luna, in this book finds her mother's apapachos the perfect thing when she is upset or when she is happy. They heal her and make her feel better. They calm her and give her peace. They let her know she is loved. When her mother has to go away on a trip, Luna does not know what she is going to do. How can she survive without her mother's apapachos? Luckily her father steps up with a bear hug at bedtime. As Luna is open to love from various sources, she realizes it is all around and comes from many different people. Apapacho love is everywhere but for Luna her mother's is the best. 

I love how this book shares a fun cultural look at hugs. It is about a special relationship between a mother and her daughter. I know this type of relationship and have to say hugs are so important!! It is something I miss most with Hazel away for school. It reminds me of the song "Four Hugs a Day." We had a CD with Charlotte Diamond performing this song when Hazel was young. Hugs are an important part of life. They are known to calm, heal, and even lower blood pressure. For a child hugs provide acceptance, love, and a sense of belonging. This book shares the different ways people can share this type of love and how it can come from different people--parents, teachers, friends, etc. At the end of the book is the Author's Note where Cynthia shares about apapachos including the culture it comes from and where the word is used for hugs as well as some of the benefits science tells us hugs have. 

This book is perfect as a story time at home book or for a classroom. It teaches about a Mexican and Latinx cultural word and also shows that cultures have similarities with hugs from family members and more. It is also a fun book for Valentine's Day because it is all about love!

Our next book shares a mother's love as well. It is based on a hit song. The book is A Thousand Years by Christina Perri and illustrated by Joy Hwang Ruiz. It is recommended for ages 3 to 7. 

About the Book:

Christina Perri teams up with New York Times bestselling illustrator Joy Hwang Ruiz to turn her hit song “A Thousand Years“ into a tender picture book on motherhood.

I have spent every day waiting for you.
Darling, don’t be afraid.
I have loved you for a thousand years.
I’ll love you for a thousand more.

A child ventures out into the world, one bold step at a time, as her mother looks on, both of them brave in embracing change and steadfast in their ever-evolving love. In this ode from parent to child, Christina Perri teams up with New York Times bestselling illustrator Joy Hwang Ruiz to turn her hit song “A Thousand Years” into a tender reminder that a mother’s love is forever.

From Me:

Just like the song, Christina captures the love a mother has for her child. Having had a hard time to get pregnant and really wanting to be a mother, this book resonates with me. How many mothers feel like they have loved their child (even as an infant) for a thousand years. As a mother we each have watched our child grow and take first steps. This book captures those moments as well as the ones of just enjoying being with a baby. 

This book shares a dreamlike world of all the positives of motherhood. It is a love letter to the baby from mom. It is the perfect book to give a new mother or for a mother to buy a young child to ensure the child he or she is loved and always will be. 

Our final book is about the love between a grandmother and granddaughter. It is full of African Proverbs. The book is Where There Is Love: A Story in African Proverbs by Shauntay Grant and illustrated by Leticia Moreno. It is recommended for ages 4 to 6. 

About the Book:

Food, family, love, and laughter make for the perfect recipe in this sweet picture book from acclaimed author Shauntay Grant.

Taking place over the course of a summer day, we follow a young girl as she and her family gather at her nana’s house for a get-together where lessons are shared, food is prepared, and lifelong memories are created. Told in African proverbs, Where There Is Love explores the importance of familial bonds and their lasting impact while presenting proverbs to inspire readers long after the story ends. Throughout the book, Nana’s house provides a safe space for our protagonist to make mistakes, learn lessons, and most importantly, find and feel love. This gorgeous picture book provides that same comforting space for readers page after page.

From Me:

In this story a young girl is excited for a day at her nana's house with the entire family. She loves gathering with the extended feeling. Her grandmother also tells her stories and shares African Proverbs full of life advice. The entire family works on cooking the meal and her grandmother has the young girl help her so she will learn to cook as well. 

The book has a fun message about family and get-togethers. It shares the fun and the love of family. Extended family is important for everyone to realize they are not a small island but have extra special people who care. 

At the end of the book there is an explanation of what African Proverbs are as well as a map of Africa with the countries the proverbs come from. Then there is a page with each proverb listed under the country it came from as well as the original language of the proverb. This book is perfect for a classroom studying cultures and Africa. I love the information shared with the proverbs as well as seeing the countries from where they originate. This book is perfect for sharing family love at Valentine's Day but also is a great book for Black History Month!