I Love You Near and Far by Marjorie Blain Parker and Jed Henry

I got a review copy of I Love You Near and Far by Marjorie Parker and Jed Henry in January and I feel sort of icky for having put off reviewing it for so long but here's the deal . . . I had expectations that I needed to overcome. It didn't actually take 4 months but once set aside, the task fell off my radar for a time. The reason I accepted the book was, of course, the fact that I now have a granddaughter and she lives quite far away. In her nearly 7 months of life, we've seen her exactly once. But, when I heard the title I pretty much composed the story I wanted to tell her in my head. So, when it arrived and that story was not quite the wording I would have used, I was disappointed.

Fast-forward to March or April and I no longer felt that way. It was simply a matter of letting the story stand for itself, rather than butting up against expectations.

I Love You Near and Far begins:

I know that we live far away, 
far apart.
But I can still love you
with all of my heart.

Good start, but then it goes on:

I love all your letters 
and air-mailed treasure.
I love you long distance,
like no map can measure.

Of course, we haven't mailed each other anything. She's just started crawling, for crying out loud, and baby was still an infant when I got the book. Silly me, thinking the book would fit that moment. It didn't and it didn't need to. Things will change as she grows and the book still will work, whether or not it's perfect. The idea was to review the book, inscribe it to her and send it to let her know that we're always thinking of her, which I still plan to do.

Here's a peek inside I Love You Near and Far:

Wherever you live--
if it's near or it's far . . . 
I'll love you wherever,
wherever you are.

You'd think I would have fallen in love with I Love You Near and Far merely on the basis of the fact that the illustrations show a family of cats rather than humans, wouldn't you? Well, illustration-wise, I like the book but I tend to like bolder color and a bit more detail in a children's book so that was another one thing I had to get used to. But, yes, I do love the cat factor. And, now that I've let the book sit long enough to get past the fact that it isn't the book I composed in my head while awaiting its arrival, I really like it. I hope my granddaughter will, as well.

Recommended - A great story to send a loved one whom you wish lived closer, just to let the little one know you're always thinking of him or her. A sweet, rhythmic message with slightly muted but colorful illustrations.

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