ALA Booklist (Sat Oct 01 00:00:00 CDT 2016)

With warmth and charm, Rosenthal takes a creative approach to conveying a comforting parental presence, whether the child is near or far. Each scenario features simple, spare prose opposite an accompanying illustration. As a girl gazes at the rippling sea, the text reads, "That inviting ocean? That's me waving at you." A boy riding his bike appears next to "That bright sun? That's me beaming at you." Other scenarios highlight a pesky mosquito ("that's me bugging you") and an alighting butterfly ("that's me hugging you"). Concluding scenes show mom embracing her young boy at home, with, "That feeling you always have in your heart? That's me loving you," as he sets off, backpack and lunch bag in tow. Rosenthal's refrain and rhyme lend a pleasantly cohesive pattern, though occasionally the concepts might be esoteric for younger ones. White's sweet, colorful artwork evokes a classic Golden Books style and depicts diverse kids and their experiences in mainly outdoor settings. From lighthearted to reassuring, these scenes remind kids that, even when they are on their own, their adults' love is ever-present. HIGH DEMAND BACKSTORY: Best-selling Rosenthal is a picture book powerhouse, and her fans will be eager to get in on this one, too.

Horn Book

In this sentimental declaration, a narrator assures readers they are protected and loved. Appealingly twee illustrations depict button-eyed children encountering nature in cozy vignettes; opposite each image, patterned text suggests children may interpret starlight as a wink, wind as a kiss on the cheek, and more. While saccharine, this book may be potentially comforting to young readers preparing for a beloved one's absence.

Kirkus Reviews

Rosenthal describes the love an adult caregiver has for a child as expressed through nature metaphors. Most of White's striking artwork-highly detailed, retro-style designs-highlights a single child on each page, so Rosenthal's verses about an adult always being close by are comforting. "That shimmering star? / That's me winking at you," and "That inviting ocean? / That's me waving at you." The adult narrator raves about a child with a thunderclap, a mosquito's buzz is "me bugging you," and the pouring rain is "me missing you." The first two spreads feature the same brown-haired, light-skinned boy setting out independently, as children are meant to do. (The pages in between feature children of both genders in a multitude of skin and hair colors.) He is joined in two of the last three spreads by his similar-looking mother: "That feeling you always have in your heart? / That's me loving you. // Whether together… // Or apart." From the wind to a butterfly to a cloud, the breeze, and a star, Rosenthal has covered most of the natural world, so no matter where children wander, there are reminders of their loving adults everywhere. Combine this with a kissing hand, and children will be ready to set off on their own to explore the world, safe in the knowledge that they are loved. (Picture book. 3-7)

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

Rosenthal (Awake Beautiful Child) uses a gentle rhyme to remind readers that a parent's love is always present, even when said parent is not: "That shimmering star?/ That's me winking at you./ That drifting cloud?/ That's me thinking of you." In pastel-hued images set against cream backdrops, White (Counting with Barefoot Critters) offers delicately detailed scenes of happily independent, racially diverse children riding bicycles, resting in hammocks, or gazing at crashing waves. One mother shows up in the final pages, but the absence of adults in most of the images, combined with the reassurances of Rosenthal's verse, should make this a comforting resource for children separated from their parents for any reason. Ages 3-7. Author's agent: Amy Rennert, Amy Rennert Agency. Illustrator's agent: Nicole Tugeau, Tugeau2. (Dec.)

School Library Journal (Tue Nov 01 00:00:00 CDT 2016)

PreS-K Rosenthal's poem declares that nature is a constant reminder of the narrator's love for a child. "That shimmering star?/That's me winking at you. That inviting ocean?/That's me waving at you." On creamy backgrounds, two lines of verse face pages of White's sweet-faced adventurers. One at a time, children encounter pesky mosquitoes, a breeze's kiss, and rain's tears, ever assured of the unflagging devotion of their parents or caregivers. VERDICT A fine introduction to personification. The honeyed text and drawings will please parents, grandparents, and caregivers. A love letter best shared one-on-one. Gay Lynn Van Vleck, Henrico County Library, Glen Allen, VA