I Love You Always and Forever

Heartwarming, huggy mouse tale for tots.

Author: Jonathan Emmett Illustrator: Daniel Howarth Pages: 32 Publisher: Scholastic Inc. Published Date: 01/01/2007 Genre: Fiction - Picture Book HC Price: $14.99 Publisher's Recommended Reading Level: 2-6 Read Aloud: 2 Read Alone: 5

Common Sense Note

Parents need to know that this is a tale of tenderness with no objectionable content. It's a book that goes great with hugs.

Families can talk about games they like to play together. What makes playing fun? Who usually wins? How did Littletail feel when her dad tagged her when they were playing chase, or when he found her during hide-and-seek? Would you feel the same way? What made her proud when she was playing follow-the-leader with her dad? What things do you always do, but won't do forever?

Rate It!

Common Sense Review

Reviewed By: Patricia Tauzer

Both words and watercolors express such tenderness in this story of a father mouse and his young daughter enjoying a day in the forest together. From cover to cover, as Longtail swings Littletail playfully through the air, chases her through the clover, or follows her through a maze of tree trunks, the reader can hear her giggles blend into the soft background hum of the bumble bees, beetles, and other insects. All is peaceful, sunny, and loving in the forest.

Johnathan Emmett writes a story that skillfully and poetically develops the world of loving play from a child's perspective. Kids will understand Littletail when she realizes she can't run as fast as her father; they know how she feels when she can't hide well enough that he can't find her. However, they also will understand why she feels so proud when she can crawl into some small spaces her father can't fit. And, kids will definitely understand when Longtail says he will love her "always and forever."

The watercolor illustrations by Daniel Howarth build on the tone that Emmett creates. By painting expressive faces full of joy, realistic backgrounds complete with beetles and caterpillars, and greenery and soil so rich that they almost smell like the damp forest, he helps create this story that is fun, insightful, and sensitive.

From The Book

Longtail and Littletail were playing in the forest.
They scampered through the bushes and scurried round the trees.

Littletail wanted to play a game.
"Catch me if you can!" she laughed. And she leapt into the long grass.

Littletail was fast --
but Longtail was faster.
And he caught her and swept her into his arms.

"You always catch me!"
Gasped Littletail.
"Do I always?" said Longtail.
"Well, it won't be forever.
One day you will be too fast
for me to catch!"

Plot Summary:

Longtail and his daughter, Littletail, spend a day playing tag and hide-and-seek in the woods. Longtail is faster and more clever, so of course he is able to tag his daughter during chase and find her when she hides. However, because he is larger, Longtail does not do so well when they play follow-the-leader. In each situation, the two playfully remind each other that what always happens now will not happen forever. That is, except when Longtail says he loves Littletail, and that "will be forever."