YOU ARE MY EVERYTHING

Conroy uses metaphors and similes to convey an elephant’s love for its calf.

The book follows the duo on their wanderings from sunrise to their reunion with their herd and their bedtime snuggling under the night sky. Throughout, spot-on, gentle rhyming verses from the parent’s perspective address the youngster: “You’re my sunny, smiling treasure / when we’re splashing in the heat. // As we wander, you spread music / with the rhythm of your feet.” Many of the comparisons will resonate with parents reading this with their child (the comfort of an embrace, a “rocky path explorer”); some images especially tap into the intense emotions experienced by new parents: “You’re the heartbeat of this family.” “You’re the earth beneath our feet / that keeps us grounded, rooted, strong. / You’re the twine that binds our loved ones— / together, we belong.” Hookham’s brightly colored illustrations combine realism and anthropomorphized expressions, which will appeal to the littlest listeners. A few other animal species are visible in the backgrounds, but the focus is on the parent-child pair, their slightly redder color making them stand out among the herd. While the book treads familiar ground, the sweet sentiments and focus on elephants help it stand slightly apart.

A solid new addition for the shelves of parents welcoming their own new additions.