Feed Me Books Friday: Family Love

This week's Feed Me Books Friday is themed Love in honor of Valentine's Day. I have two books to share, and both are on the theme of "Family Love."

The first is new to us. We got it through Paper Back Swap, an new site I've been on to unload my old books from college and my years as a teacher, and swap them for new to us books. for the price of shipping a book to someone else, I can pick from thousands of children's books to stock my own girls' library. Here's the link if you want to learn more:

The book I want to introduce you to was recommended to me by a college friend. It's called I Love You Stinky Face

In this book, a mother is tucking in her child. She says, "I love you my wonderful child," The response is one most mothers can relate to, a classic delaying tactic, yet with a clear meaning and need being expressed: "But mamma, but mamma, what if I were a super smelly skunk, and I smelled so bad that my name was Stinky Face?"

Love is shown in Mamma's response, which does not dismiss the concern but addresses it in a loving, reassuring way:

"Then I would give you a bath and sprinkle you with sweet-smelling powder. And if you still smelled bad I wouldn't mind, and I would hug you tight and whisper in your ear, 'I love you, Stinky Face."

The story has several other "But Mamma's", and each time she reassures the child that she would love the child no matter what. I love theme of unconditional parental love. The illustrations are wonderfully beautiful as well.

Natalie LOVES this book. We had it from the library as a book on tape first, and she listened to it over and over and over. I asked her why she loved it so much, and she couldn't dictate the reason, but I like to think that it's the comfort of the message.

The other book is about siblings. It's called Honey Bunny Funnybunny (Beginner Books(R)).

This story is about the Funnybunny family, and their little girl named Honey Bunny. Honey Bunny is tired of her brother's (P.J.) constant teasing. Finally, when he paints her face green during the night, her parents lay down the law and say no more teasing. P.J. stops teasing Honey Bunny, but Honey Bunny feels sad. Eventually she thinks her brother doesn't love her anymore. Then one morning she wakes up to realize he does - becuase he painted her face again!

Ok, maybe this doesn't teach the right lesson about teasing, as I don't think P.J.'s actions were right, and we do talk about that. But, as someone who has a brother I can honestly say that sometimes siblings do show love in a strange way, often through teasing. It's one of those things we have to learn to handle as we grow, and I like the funny way this book points it out. Maybe it only makes sense to me, but I enjoy this book and its message, as well as the cadance of the words.

If you would like to participate in Feed Me Books Friday, head on over to Janna's blog and jump right in! Just click on the picture to join!