You Are My Everything

Kelly Conroy worked as an actuary before focusing on writing stories and poems for children. She lives in the suburbs of Pittsburgh, PA, with her husband, two sons, and mini goldendoodle, Chewy. Kelly loves all things magical, whimsical, and numerical, and her goal in life is to make people smile.Abigail Hookham started her creative career in the games industry as a concept and visual development artist, before pursuing her dream to illustrate children’s books. She has a deep-set love for creating atmospheric, colorful scenes that evoke wonder and intrigue. When not lost in a painting, she can be found potting up flowers and vegetables in her garden with her husband.

Conroy uses metaphors and similes to convey an elephant’s love for its calf.The book follows the duo on their wanderings from sunrise to their reunion with their herd and their bedtime snuggling under the night sky. Throughout, spot-on, gentle rhyming verses from the parent’s perspective address the youngster: “You’re my sunny, smiling treasure / when we’re splashing in the heat. // As we wander, you spread music / with the rhythm of your feet.” Many of the comparisons will resonate with parents reading this with their child (the comfort of an embrace, a “rocky path explorer”); some images especially tap into the intense emotions experienced by new parents: “You’re the heartbeat of this family.” “You’re the earth beneath our feet / that keeps us grounded, rooted, strong. / You’re the twine that binds our loved ones— / together, we belong.” Hookham’s brightly colored illustrations combine realism and anthropomorphized expressions, which will appeal to the littlest listeners. A few other animal species are visible in the backgrounds, but the focus is on the parent-child pair, their slightly redder color making them stand out among the herd. While the book treads familiar ground, the sweet sentiments and focus on elephants help it stand slightly apart.A solid new addition for the shelves of parents welcoming their own new additions. (Picture book. 2-6)--Kirkus Reviews