Times Two. Sheree Plett. Illustrated by Shari-Anne Vis. Abbotsford, BC: Fresh Wind Press, 2012. 24 pp., hardcover, $12.00. ISBN 978-0-9811409-7-1. Review by Alicia Cheng. Preschool / Ages 1-4. *** /4

excerpt:

As wide as I can stretch my arms
As tall as I can reach you, I love you,
I love you, times two

In this picture book, Shari-Anne Vis adds watercolour illustrations to accompany the song, Times Two, written by Sheree Plett. The illustrations present an almost dream-like atmosphere. The bubbles on some of the pages and the watercolour paint strokes blending into each other help to create this dream. You don’t know where it ends nor where it starts, just like the limitless love parents have for their children. Vis’s illustrations are simple, setting a calm tone while freely expressing the feeling of love.

     Vis paints two raccoons, a parent and a child, having various adventures to express the endless love parents have for their children. Our love for our little ones is limitless. It is the time it takes to fly to the moon, the time it takes to swim across the ocean, and the time it takes to chase the sun. No matter how far our arms stretch or how tall we reach, we will still love our little ones. And even that is not enough. We love them, times two.

     Times Two is a song about love. The link to download the song is shared at the end of the picture book. The tune is jazzy and catchy, with a bouncy rhythm which will appeal to infants and young children. The images portrayed by the words are very vivid and will bring clear pictures into children’s minds even without their seeing the illustrations in the picture book. Children and adults alike will quickly remember this song, especially the repetitive chorus, “As wide as I can stretch my arms, As tall as I can reach, I love you, I love you, times two.” Times Two is symbolic for the endless love we have for our little ones. It is not double the love. Rather, Times Two is “a warm-hearted, lyrical book about the limitlessness of love” (back cover). With sweet lyrics, accompanied by cute watercolour illustrations, Times Two is for all those we dearly love in our lives.
A lovely one-to-one reading or singing with your child book.

Recommended.

Alicia Cheng is a Children’s Librarian at the Vancouver Public Library in Vancouver, BC.

To comment on this title or this review, send mail to cm@umanitoba.ca.

Copyright © the Manitoba Library Association. Reproduction for personal use is permitted only if this copyright notice is maintained. Any other reproduction is prohibited without permission.

Published by The Manitoba Library Association ISSN 1201-9364

Hosted by the University of Manitoba.

 

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