I LOVE YOU WITH ALL MY HEART

Chapman adds to the I-love-you-always shelf.

When Little Bear’s drumming gets a little too enthusiastic, she accidentally topples Mommy’s favorite plant. To her credit, she goes right to Mommy with the snapped-off sunflower, quick to apologize. But she just knows it’s not enough and that Mommy will “be sad…and angry…and you won’t love me anymore!” Mommy is just as quick to soothe and reassure, asking Little Bear to put a paw over Mommy’s heart to feel “my love beating on and on forever.” Chapman nicely sidesteps what could be a sticky issue by having Mommy point out that this same love lives in Little Bear’s heart, too, and the cub puts that knowledge to work the very next day to deal with a disappointment at school and to persevere while chasing her lost kite. And Mommy gets a dose of her own medicine when she burns a cake: Little Bear loves her always, even when things go wrong—and with this, the book ends abruptly. Chapman’s signature adorable, expressive animals bring the tale to life; readers will have no problem empathizing with Little Bear.

Yes, hearts are full of love, and a heartbeat can be a soothing comfort to those in need of some TLC.