Lunar New Year is almost here, and I found the sweetest book to help celebrate the season! My Love for You Is Always by Gillian Sze, beautifully illustrated by Michelle Lee for Philomel Books, follows a tender conversation between a mother and her little boy. When the boy asks his mama if she loves him, she responds with heartfelt metaphors drawn from the traditional Chinese meal she’s preparing for their family. Through the food, she describes her love in terms of what it looks like, smells like, sounds like, and more, engaging all the senses.
This story sparked such fun conversations in our house about the foods we often see around Lunar New Year and how we can use figurative language to express our love. My kids are at an age where we can dive into the concepts of metaphors and similes, so this book became a perfect starting point for creating our own love-inspired metaphors. It feels especially fitting with Valentine’s Day just around the corner!
The beauty of picture books is their versatility—you can engage with them on so many levels. My Love for You Is Always can inspire lessons about figurative language, different cultures, and the traditions of Lunar New Year. Or, you can simply enjoy it as the heartfelt story it is: a parent lovingly communicating the depth of their love to their child.
Note: Can we take a moment for those amazing endpapers? I’m in love!
The link to purchase the book is an Amazon Affiliate link, which means I may receive a small compensation for promoting the book, while the price is the same for you! Win, win!
Ages: 2-7
Themes: Family, Love, Chinese Culture
