IF I COULD…

Zurbo’s ode to parental love encompasses a spectrum of emotions and experiences.

The author’s litany of statements, each beginning with the refrain “If I could, I’d give you…,” starts off with the moon, the sky, and the outdoors—nature-based experiences that widen children’s worlds. From there, Zurbo, a storyteller who composed 365 children’s stories in a year as part of his Cielo Project, moves to yens embodying the imagination: “every fairy tale, / every dragon’s roar…legends sung by mermaids.” “If I could, I’d write a thousand / songs for you to sing.” The narrator also invokes another human trait: ambivalence. “I’d give you the smallest piece of my loneliness. / So you may brace for its days of power.” “I’d give you every tear I’ve ever cried. / So you can learn from my mistakes— / when to let go, / …how to weather storms.” Brimming with well-selected detail, Barton’s elegantly composed illustrations present a dozen or so diverse families, while Zurbo’s sentiments coalesce in ruminations on the inherent limitations of parenting. The narrator wishes for “constant happiness! / Joy!” while acknowledging the necessity of separation: “I’d give you every / little thing / you’ll ever need. // Even though it will never be enough.” Barton’s final spreads gather the kids in imaginative play, displaying an affinity for rendering single-minded toddlers and creative preschoolers. Zurbo ends on just the right note: “If I could, I’d give you the world… // But it’s already yours.”

A tender praise song to the parents of growing children.