YOU ARE MY MIRACLE

The collaborators from You Are My I Love You (2001) reuse the initial verse from that volume (“I am your parent; you are my child. I am your quiet place; you are my wild”) as the beginning words and poetic structure for another metaphorical exploration of the parent-child bond. This time the teddy-bear characters focus on winter and Christmas activities: baking, wrapping packages, decorating, singing carols and reading under the Christmas tree. The metaphorical structure takes a little getting used to and will need to be explained to some children, while others will immediately find this an amusing way of looking at things. The text needs to be accepted as delightfully nonsensical, and some may wince at lines that don’t scan exactly, but the sentiments of tender love and care shine through in both text and illustrations. Ichikawa’s watercolors are a delight, with the two nattily dressed bears accompanied throughout their activities by four smaller stuffed animals that join in all the activities. The world she creates for the bears and their friends is safe, warm and cozy—a wonderfully nurturing place to celebrate Christmas together. (Picture book. 3-6)