IF ANIMALS SAID I LOVE YOU, MAMA

Paul and Walker celebrate the many ways that very young animals might express their love.

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.

A meaningful new series addition, suffused in warmth and tenderness.