Available Formats
I Love You More Than . . .
By (Author) Taye Diggs
Illustrated by Shane W. Evans
Palgrave USA
Square Fish
25th July 2023
United States
Children
Fiction
Childrens / Teenage fiction: Family and home stories
Childrens / Teenage personal and social topics: Families and family members
813.6
Paperback
32
Width 202mm, Height 228mm, Spine 4mm
108g
My child. I am not always with you as much as I'd like. But you are always in my mind and my heart. Some families look different than others. A father who doesn't live full-time with his son tells him all the ways he misses and loves him. Perfect for families who are separated, whatever the circumstances, this message of love underscores the bond between parent and child in ways that little ones will understand.
"In this affirmation of paternal love by the creators of Mixed Me!, an African-American man addresses his child, lamenting that though "I am not always with you as much as I'd like... You are always running around in my mind and chilling inside my heart." Pictured more often apart than together--it appears that travel often separates them--the two participate, on facing pages, in analogous activities as the narrator lovingly reminds his child that he's seen and adored: "I love you more than I love the beach... I love the footprints your little feet make when I'm chasing you through the sand."--Publishers Weekly
"This book is more than just a beautiful love letter from a father to his child, it also provides the reassurance so many children need when they are separated from their parents. ...a true gem." --School Library Journal, starred review
Mixed Me!:
"Mike's unerring sense of self ('I'm a beautiful blend of dark and light') and the powerful love that surrounds him make this a rewarding, valuable read for families of any makeup." --Publishers Weekly, starred review
"[A] well-written, fun story of acceptance, friendship, and love. The text, colors, and design make this a good choice for read-alouds, but there are many details in the artwork . . . that make it good for one-on-one sharing." --School Library Journal, starred review
"Mike's confidence in his own appearance and coolness as well as the way he proudly embodies diversity, including a certain level of androgyny, make this a refreshing read. . . . [The] mixed-media illustrations will make readers want to reach out and touch them . . . If all kids had the confidence about who they are that Mike has, what a wonderful world this would be." --Kirkus Reviews, starred review
"The story's joyful message will resonate with multiracial readers and their families, leaving them with the cheeky takeaway: if you have a problem with me, it's your problem." --Booklist
Chocolate Me:
"With its universal themes of wanting to fit in, self-acceptance, and self-esteem, this read-aloud offering is sure to strike a chord with many young readers/listeners, and on a variety subjects, not just race." --School Library Journal
Taye Diggs is an actor whose credits include motion pictures (How Stella Got Her Groove Back, Chicago), stage (Rent, Wicked), and television (Private Practice, The Good Wife, Murder in the First, Empire). He is also the author of Mixed Me! and Chocolate Me!, both published by F&F. He lives in Los Angeles and New York City with his son. Shane W. Evans is the illustrator of numerous award-winning books for children, including We March, Underground, Mixed Me!, and Chocolate Me! He lives with his family in Kansas City, Missouri, where he also runs an art and community events studio. shaneevans.com