YOU’RE MY FAVORITE EVERYTHING

A mother explains to her young children how much she loves them in author/illustrator Allen’s debut rhyming picture book.

The book follows a mother and her three kids as they enjoy spending time together: “I think about my favorite things,” the mom says, “and thoughts of you are in everything.” She expresses the ways in which she specifically thinks of her children as her favorites, such as “You’re my favorite flower in a vase.” Illustrations show the group going to school, eating ice cream, and traveling, among other activities. The last page depicts the mother as an elderly woman, using past-tense narration (“you made me believe in better things”). The illustrations are cartoonish and colorful, often providing useful context; for example, a page with the text “You’re my favorite ‘there’s no place like home’ ” shows the children dressed as characters from The Wizard of Oz. The book also has a religious element; a child is shown reciting prayers. The rhymes are simple but sometimes the rhythm is off, as in “You’re my favorite summer vacation, as long as you’re with me at the destination.” All the characters appear to be white.

Heartfelt, personal sentiments, despite occasionally awkward rhymes.