DO I LOVE YOU? YES I DO!

From sunrise to sunset, a Black mother and child spend a magical day together.

A child with two black buns, whom readers may recognize from Forman and Figueroa’s Like So (2024), is thrilled to greet the day. Accompanied by Mama, the young narrator frolics through lush grass, dances a butterfly ballet, and wades in the sea; at last, the two cuddle together by the shore. Magic and movement are all around, and the child’s body language reinforces the confidence, security, and pride that the little one feels. On one spread, mother and child recline on a blanket outside, surrounded by sparkly swirls (“I’m made of the same stuff as stars…the ancestors got together and each threw in their best dreams”); on the next, they’re brought back to reality. “I belong to this world now,” a world packed with affirming goodness. Forman’s poetic text has an irresistible rhythm that blends delightfully with Figueroa’s immersive illustrations. Rich tones of “pink and orange, peach and blue” and changing perspectives throughout make Mother Nature feel like another character in the story, inviting readers to draw connections to their own sensory experiences in nature. Whether adults read this one aloud with preschoolers or share it with a snuggler on their lap, little hearts will swell each time they chirp along to the refrain: “Do I love you? Yes I do!”

A vibrant, immersive celebration of infinite love that’s sure to fill young readers with joy.