Horn Book (Fri Apr 01 00:00:00 CST 2005)

Wordy, awkward rhymes ("Taking time to listen to you is yet another way / I take the time to tell you, child, that 'I love you' today") mar this depiction of a parent displaying love through action. Vibrant cartoon illustrations of the African-American mom combing the boy's hair, feeding him breakfast, etc., give the book some appeal despite the stilted text.

Kirkus Reviews (Wed Dec 01 00:00:00 CST 2004)

A mother tells her child all the ways she demonstrates her love as they experience the events of daily living. Making sure her child is healthy, clean and well-fed, encouraging learning, listening and ensuring security are all opportunities for saying, "I love you." Mother takes time to play and chat and teach, giving her child individual attention. She prays both morning and night that everything she does is understood as an expression of love. Evans's bright, energetic illustrations, rendered in oil, are large-scale, stylized depictions of these activities. What sets this apart is that the protagonists are an African-American mother and child instead of the usual cutesy animals. In the manner of Guess How Much I Love You and other gentle evocations of parental and familial love, this is a tender read-aloud that might become an often-repeated bedtime ritual for the very young. (Picture book. 3-6)

Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

The mother-daughter team behind <EMPHASIS TYPE=""ITALIC"">Salt in His Shoes joins with Evans (<EMPHASIS TYPE=""ITALIC"">The<EMPHASIS TYPE=""ITALIC"">Way a Door Closes) to follow an African-American mother through a typically busy day, chronicling all the obvious and not-so-apparent ways she expresses her unconditional love. At the breakfast table, Evans portrays a woman smiling but vigilant, who makes sure her children eat a good breakfast: "Keeping you healthy, well, and strong, that is another way/ I take the time to tell you, child, that 'I love you' today." But although the artist pictures three children, one young son in particular is the focus of the mother's attention: most of the action revolves around him, and the book opens and closes with her offering a prayer at his bedside. Sports-savvy youngsters may wonder whether this basketball-loving boy who wears a Tarheel blue T-shirt is inspired by the legendary Michael Jordan, the subject of the co-authors' first book (others may wonder why the two other children in the family don't seem to warrant equal attention). Evans's warmly portrayed characters, generous rounded shapes and velvety, saturated palette will draw readers into the full-bleed spreads, immersing them in the affection and bustle of family life. Yet by putting the mother's experience, efforts and emotions front and center, the book seems more concerned with modeling good parenting than with engaging the imaginations of preschoolers. Ages 3-6. <EMPHASIS TYPE=""ITALIC"">(Dec.)

School Library Journal (Wed Dec 01 00:00:00 CST 2004)

PreS-Gr 2 An African-American mother describes the many ways that she expresses her love to her son throughout the day. From the rising of the sun until the moon comes out, her feelings are revealed through routine tasks, such as helping the boy get dressed and clean his room, sending him off to school, and spending time with him at the park. After dinner, she cuddles the youngster and reads him a story, reassuring him that he is safe and cherished. Just as the book opens, it ends with the mother praying, hoping that "in all I've done and was moved to say,/I've done my best in telling you, child,/that 'I love you' every day." The vibrant oil paintings assist in capturing the playful, affectionate relationship between mother and child. Set against bright background scenes, the characters take center stage in each appealing spread. This is a useful book for family storytimes because it offers adults a pattern for building good parenting skills. Tracy Bell, Durham Public Schools, NC