Always

Children everywhere will be comforted by this universal tale, in which a young boy is assured that his mother loves him — no matter what he does.

“Do you love me when I finger-paint with toothpaste on the bathroom mirror?”

As he goes through a day, a child asks his mother for reassurance with a series of questions. Does she love him when he’s gentle? Does she love him when he’s not? Does she love him when he jumps in puddles wearing his new sneakers? Simple, charming, and disarming, Ann Stott’s story will resonate with little listeners and adults alike. Matt Phelan’s funny, poignant drawings capture the child’s behavior, both good and bad, and the mother’s unconditional love.