Hello, friends! Our book today is Love is a Story, written by Todd Tarpley and illustrated by Sophie Leu, a charming ode to love and family.

The truth is, love isn’t always grand gestures, extravagant presents, or dramatic speeches. As most people will tell you, true love lies in the quiet moments shared with the ones you care about most – it’s the latter of little feet as the sun rises, laying on the floor and playing with toys together, kiddie pools filled with water from the hose, or a warm cuddle when the snow is falling. It’s patching up booboos with care, building a blanket fort, and crunching through autumn leaves. It’s the special times we share on weekend adventures, or just hanging around the house. And best of all, the more that we share that love with others, the more it comes back to us.

Lovely. Tarpley’s warm and playful rhyming text engages readers as it explores humble acts of familial love, and pairs perfectly with Sophie Leu’s delightful illustrations, which follow a handful of families through the four seasons as they spend time together. Leu’s characters are wonderfully diverse in race, ability, religious dress, and – critical in a book like this – family composition. The combined result is a book that feels like a cozy hug, and a comforting reminder that quality time can be any time spent engaging with one another and forming memories. The length is perfect for a storytime, and JJ and I both really enjoyed it. Overall, this one is a sure to pull the heartstrings, and we highly recommend it. Baby Bookworm approved!

(Note: A copy of this book was provided to The Baby Bookworm by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.)