This book is about a mother who holds her newborn son and sings to him while he is sleeping. She continues to do this throughout the different stages of his life - toddler, youth, teenager - and even while he is an adult living in his own home. When the mother becomes old and sick, her son holds her and sings the same song to her that she had sung to him his whole life. When his mother passes away, he picks up his newborn daughter while she is sleeping and starts singing the song to her.

The illustrations in this book have the style and texture of being drawn with coloured pencils. The illustrations are brightly coloured and very detailed which enhances the storyline and allows children to use their imagination.

This story also assists children with developing socially because it demonstrates gender stereotypes within the mother-son relationship. The mother is seen to be caring and nurturing throughout the book while the son is shown not to be very affectionate throughout his life. At the end of the book, these gender roles are reversed when the son is seen caring for his baby daughter. This helps children to develop socially because children are taught that both men and women can display love and affection. 

Additionally, this book assists children with developing cognitively because it discusses the deeper concepts of life and death. This story is not just about the son growing up, it’s also about his mother's aging. This helps children understand that death is a part of life and that it does not need to be feared. This allows children to ask questions about life, death, love, gender stereotypes, and what it really means to die.

The Arts allow students to be able to explore and interpret the world around them. The illustrations in Love You Forever can help stimulate students’ imaginations, provide them with insights about the world, and develop their critical and creative thinking skills. The illustrations can also teach students about different types of artistic expression and help them to develop their communication skills in imaginative and innovative ways. The illustrations in the story that depicts love, family, life, death, and gender roles can increase children’s understanding of others and challenge their perceptions. 

Love You Forever can also be connected to the Grade 1 curriculum for Social Studies because it allows students to think critically, understand different viewpoints, and suggest solutions to problems. The themes of love, family, life, death, and gender roles in this story contribute to students’ understanding of who they are, where they come from, and where they belong, and allow them to explore their identities. Furthermore, this book assists students with formulating questions and interpreting and analyzing information.

 

Freesoulproduction. “Vector Seamless Background with Yellow Rubber Duck Toy.” 2011. CanStockPhoto, 

www.canstockphoto.com/vector-seamless-background-with-yellow-78897765.html. Accessed 28 March 2022.

 

“Love You Forever.” The Prindle Institute for Ethics, June 2020, www.prindleinstitute.org/books/love-you-forever/.

 

McGraw, Sheila. “Love You Forever Cover Illustration.” Love You Forever. E-book, Firefly Books, 2011.

 

McGraw, Sheila. “Mother Holding Son Illustration.” Love You Forever. E-book, Firefly Books, 2011.

 

McGraw, Sheila. “Nine-Year-Old Child Illustration.” Love You Forever. E-book, Firefly Books, 2011.

 

McGraw, Sheila. “Son Holding Daughter Illustration.” Love You Forever. E-book, Firefly Books, 2011.

 

Munsch, Robert. Love You Forever. E-book, Firefly Books, 2011. 

Social Studies. The Ontario Curriculum, 2018, www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/curriculum/elementary/social-

studies-history-geography-2018.pdf. Accessed 28 March 2022.

 

Taylor, Cecelia. Picture and Picture Storybooks. Brightspace, 24 Jan. 2022, 

brightspace.algonquincollege.com/d2l/le/content/398797/viewContent/6322855/View. Accessed 28 March 2022.