How many times have you secretly wished that your children would stay forever little? Ever catch yourself taking a gazillion photos in the hopes of capturing those precious infant and toddler moments? I know I have. I think there exists an internal conflict amongst us parents who yearn to watch our children grow into independent human beings and yet, at the same time, hold on to those cuddly babes that were once so tiny, so naive, so innocent. If I Could Keep You Little..., a book written and illustrated by the talented Marianne Richmond, explores this motif and the emotions that a mother and father experience as their child changes and grows.

With whimsical illustrations and rhythmic poetry, If I Could Keep You Little... is sure to delight both parent and child. The water colour drawings beautifully capture those everyday milestones while the font contains splashes of bold colours and is large enough for early readers to tackle. The repetition of the beginning of each sentence makes it predictable for the young reader and it is also fun to read the text included in the illustrations.

This is one of those stories that a parent will cherish as it "speaks straight to the heart." It would make for a great bedtime story and serves as a reminder that the time we spend with our children is precious and fleeting. I think it would also make for a great gift to welcome a new baby. The book is listed at $15.99 U.S./$18.99 CAN and can also be downloaded digitally as an eBook in PDF or ePub format via Sourcebooks.com.
 
About the Author

Marianne Richmond is an award-winning author and illustrator who founded Marianne Richmond Studios, Inc. back in 1991. She also designs greeting cards and other gift products that are adorned with her artistic style. Marianne is the mother of 4 children who serve as inspiration for her stories as well as the cover image which captures the "flying game" she used to play with them. You can read about how she first came up with the idea for the cover on Marianne's blog as well as connect with her on her Facebook fan page.


Disclosure: I was sent a hardcover copy of this book for the purpose of this review. I was not compensated in any way. The thoughts expressed in this review are my own.