Big love by Megan Jacobson and Beck Feiner

The warmth of hugs and kisses, of feeling safe,  of family togetherness, tenderness and openness are all extolled in this picture book with its fantastic illustrations filling each page.

The repetition of the line, ‘but it’s not as big as my love for you’ underlines every big thing in the book. We are introduced to a big house, with a big kitchen and bathroom, a house so tall that trees tickle its roof, but its not as big as the love for a child.

Each time a page is turned the same idea is presented: something large is shown with the refrain following, stressing the fact that parents and children’s love is the biggest thing there is. We see the town with winding streets and apartments, a river with ducks and playground. We see a city with skyscrapers, buildings, and construction sites, bridges and streets, busses and an oval. Then we see the world, in its very bigness, lots of different people and animals and iconic structures. All vey big, but not as big as then parent’s love. Then the illustrations take the reader off into space, the biggest thing there is, but of course, not as huge as a parents’ love, and finally we see the universe.

Each time the refrain solidifies the love between a parent and child, ensuring it is the biggest thing there is, extolling the relationship between mother, father, grandparent and child.

I love the illustrations depicting a range of families, showing a range of activities undertaken by a happy, loving family. Children will love learning the refrain, repeating it when appropriate as the pages are turned by the reader. They will enjoy sharing the things they do with their parents, things that reflect the love between them and their parents.

Fran Knight