I WOULD LOVE YOU STILL

A parent expresses unconditional love for a child during a trip to the zoo.

“If your skin had stripes and cheetah spots,” the parent says, “I would still love you lots and lots.” This rhyming picture book beautifully captures the bond between a Black caregiver and child and their day of wonder. As the pair tours the zoo, each creature offers an opportunity for the parent to convey affection. “If you flew like an eagle in the sky, / I would blow kisses as you went by.” “If you dangled upside down like a possum in a tree, / that wouldn’t matter at all to me!” “And what if you changed from green to blue, / just like little chameleons do? / I would love you still.” Once home, the observations turn more tangible. What if the little one makes a mess, “just like most little children do?” Or if the child “built a den in our habitat” or “scurried all around, so wild and free?” No matter what, the parent’s love is evident. The use of repetition and rhyme makes for a soothing read-aloud. Wilson-Max’s digital illustrations have a watercolorlike feeling, evoking the intimacy of a painting. The book ends with an image of the parent reading to the child before bedtime—hopefully caregivers will follow suit.

A tender, quiet affirmation of Black joy.