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You Are Special, Little One
Now in board! This cozy companion to I LOVE YOU, LITTLE ONE celebrates all the ways children are special.
"Deep in a tree trunk by a woodland grove, a fox kit asks, 'How am I special?' And her Mama and Papa reply, 'Dear little one, with your glossy red coat and swift running body, you are so special - and we will love you forever and ever and ever.' With lyrical text and lush watercolors, Nancy Tafuri follows I LOVE YOU, LITTLE ONE with a celebration of the ways all creatures are special. Ranging from penguins in the Antarctic to lions on the savanna, baby animals around the world are told just how special they are, And lastly, a human child is praised for his curious mind and loving heart.
"Deep in a tree trunk by a woodland grove, a fox kit asks, 'How am I special?' And her Mama and Papa reply, 'Dear little one, with your glossy red coat and swift running body, you are so special - and we will love you forever and ever and ever.' With lyrical text and lush watercolors, Nancy Tafuri follows I LOVE YOU, LITTLE ONE with a celebration of the ways all creatures are special. Ranging from penguins in the Antarctic to lions on the savanna, baby animals around the world are told just how special they are, And lastly, a human child is praised for his curious mind and loving heart.
15 pages, Board Book
First published September 1, 2003
About the author
Nancy Tafuri
68 books57 followersNancy Tafuri is probably best known as the creator of Have You Seen My Duckling?, a 1985 Caldecott Honor Book described by Parent’s Choice as “beautifully precise yet emotionally affecting.” Trained as a graphic designer, Tafuri has authored more than 45 books over 30 years for the very young.
When Tafuri first attempted picture book illustration in the late 1970’s picture books were aimed at five-, six-, and seven-year-olds. Tafuri’s images were considered “too graphic” for children that age. “The pictures are too big,” she was told over and over about the large, colorful shapes she drew. Finally, Tafuri’s talent was recognized and tapped at Greenwillow Books, Harper Collins Publishers.
Since then she has had the opportunity to work with Scholastic Press, Scholastic Inc., Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers, Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing Division and most recently Little, Brown Books For Young Readers, Little, Brown and Company.
Tafuri was born in Brooklyn, New York. For the first ten years of her life she was an only child and says that this helped her to learn to entertain herself with stories and art.
Tafuri entered the School of Visual Arts in New York City in 1964. Her first job was as an assistant art director for the publishing firm Simon & Schuster. She left two years later and married Thomas Tafuri, a fellow student at the School of Visual Arts.
The Tafuri’s opened their own graphic design studio, in 1971. Their primary product was dust jackets for hardcover books. They opened their business in New York City, but eventually moved their studio and home to Connecticut.
At this time, Nancy was able to devote all of her time to writing and illustration.
When Tafuri finally found herself illustrating children’s books, either her own or other authors’, she felt she had found her life’s calling and a strong sense of joy from creating them. She loves to take a small portion of the text and create a visual representation that children can grasp and remember. In 1989, when Cristina was born, Nancy began to feel even more strongly motivated to illustrate for children. Her work seemed even more important and more personal.
“I feel honored to be creating literature for young children. Seeing how very important the early years are in a person’s life, I can only hope that my books can contribute in some small way to that growth, with the feelings that I hope I project within those pages, through line, color, shape, and story.”
When Tafuri first attempted picture book illustration in the late 1970’s picture books were aimed at five-, six-, and seven-year-olds. Tafuri’s images were considered “too graphic” for children that age. “The pictures are too big,” she was told over and over about the large, colorful shapes she drew. Finally, Tafuri’s talent was recognized and tapped at Greenwillow Books, Harper Collins Publishers.
Since then she has had the opportunity to work with Scholastic Press, Scholastic Inc., Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers, Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing Division and most recently Little, Brown Books For Young Readers, Little, Brown and Company.
Tafuri was born in Brooklyn, New York. For the first ten years of her life she was an only child and says that this helped her to learn to entertain herself with stories and art.
Tafuri entered the School of Visual Arts in New York City in 1964. Her first job was as an assistant art director for the publishing firm Simon & Schuster. She left two years later and married Thomas Tafuri, a fellow student at the School of Visual Arts.
The Tafuri’s opened their own graphic design studio, in 1971. Their primary product was dust jackets for hardcover books. They opened their business in New York City, but eventually moved their studio and home to Connecticut.
At this time, Nancy was able to devote all of her time to writing and illustration.
When Tafuri finally found herself illustrating children’s books, either her own or other authors’, she felt she had found her life’s calling and a strong sense of joy from creating them. She loves to take a small portion of the text and create a visual representation that children can grasp and remember. In 1989, when Cristina was born, Nancy began to feel even more strongly motivated to illustrate for children. Her work seemed even more important and more personal.
“I feel honored to be creating literature for young children. Seeing how very important the early years are in a person’s life, I can only hope that my books can contribute in some small way to that growth, with the feelings that I hope I project within those pages, through line, color, shape, and story.”
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
July 18, 2013
From the time my son was able to show a preference in his books, he started choosing I Love You, Little One, by Nancy Trafuri. Now that he is almost five, we don't read that book every night, but he still will choose it on nights when he wants to hear how much I love him. We've read that book so often over the years, that he reads it with me. This morning, when I gave him You Are Special, Little One, he stroked the beautiful foxes on the cover and said, "I love you!"
Just like I Love You, Little One, this book reads like a gentle lullaby. It is repetitive enough that my son was saying the words with me during the first reading, but, of course, each animal is uniquely special. The child is special because of a warm, caring heart and a bright, curious mind. Just like my son.
The illustrations are absolutely lovely. They are realistic enough that the prairie dog and the beaver look different, but they are still gentle, soft and very child-friendly.
Just like I Love You, Little One, this book reads like a gentle lullaby. It is repetitive enough that my son was saying the words with me during the first reading, but, of course, each animal is uniquely special. The child is special because of a warm, caring heart and a bright, curious mind. Just like my son.
The illustrations are absolutely lovely. They are realistic enough that the prairie dog and the beaver look different, but they are still gentle, soft and very child-friendly.
March 14, 2009
This cozy companion to I LOVE YOU, LITTLE ONE celebrates all the ways children are special.
"Deep in a tree trunk by a woodland grove, a fox kit asks, 'How am I special?' And her Mama and Papa reply, 'Dear little one, with your glossy red coat and swift running body, you are so special - and we will love you forever and ever and ever.' With lyrical text and lush watercolors, Nancy Tafuri follows I LOVE YOU, LITTLE ONE with a celebration of the ways all creatures are special. Ranging from penguins in the Antarctic to lions on the savanna, baby animals around the world are told just how special they are, And lastly, a human child is praised for his curious mind and loving heart.
Subject: Animals -- Infancy -- Juvenile fiction
Parent and child -- Juvenile fiction
Individuality -- Juvenile fiction
Animals -- Infancy -- Fiction.
Parent and child -- Fiction
Individuality -- Fiction
"Deep in a tree trunk by a woodland grove, a fox kit asks, 'How am I special?' And her Mama and Papa reply, 'Dear little one, with your glossy red coat and swift running body, you are so special - and we will love you forever and ever and ever.' With lyrical text and lush watercolors, Nancy Tafuri follows I LOVE YOU, LITTLE ONE with a celebration of the ways all creatures are special. Ranging from penguins in the Antarctic to lions on the savanna, baby animals around the world are told just how special they are, And lastly, a human child is praised for his curious mind and loving heart.
Subject: Animals -- Infancy -- Juvenile fiction
Parent and child -- Juvenile fiction
Individuality -- Juvenile fiction
Animals -- Infancy -- Fiction.
Parent and child -- Fiction
Individuality -- Fiction
Read
May 31, 2017This book goes through each family of animals and they ask how are they special. Their families all give them examples about what they like about them. Then finally they say that they love them. This is good for children because they can give examples about why they love someone.
For the activity you can have a discussion with the children about who is special in their life. They can give reasons about why that person is special to them. Then they could write them a card (with the help of the teacher) or draw them a picture to give to that person.
For the activity you can have a discussion with the children about who is special in their life. They can give reasons about why that person is special to them. Then they could write them a card (with the help of the teacher) or draw them a picture to give to that person.
June 8, 2011
I like this book because even though every character in the book is different they are all special. There are some children who know that they are different and as a teacher one may have to remind them that just because they are a little different does not mean that they are not special. I felt different when I moved to AL and I was the only Hispanic person in the school. Maybe a book like this would have helped me.
October 25, 2017
Some books are meant to end with a hug, just like this one. Sweet!
Ages: 2 - 6
**Like my reviews? I also have hundreds of detailed reports that I offer too. These reports give a complete break-down of everything in the book, so you'll know just how clean it is or isn't. I also have Clean Guides (downloadable PDFs) which enable you to clean up your book before reading it! Visit my website: The Book Radar.
Ages: 2 - 6
**Like my reviews? I also have hundreds of detailed reports that I offer too. These reports give a complete break-down of everything in the book, so you'll know just how clean it is or isn't. I also have Clean Guides (downloadable PDFs) which enable you to clean up your book before reading it! Visit my website: The Book Radar.
May 12, 2011
The book reinforces that everyone is special in his or her own way. From foxes to lions to penguins to prairie dogs, each of the young asks its parents, "How am I special?" and each set of parents tells the young how it is special and that "we will love you forever and ever and always." The illustrations are softly colored and detailed and convey the closeness and love of family.
November 13, 2014
Adorable journey through a variety of species, giving a series of self-affirmations to young animals. Falls a bit short at the end, missing an opportunity to impart upon a human child how their rule of the planet and subjugation of the lesser species truly differentiates them from the lesser fauna. There's always room for that in a sequel.
February 7, 2015
This is a nice children book written by Nancy Tafuri. it was published on September 2003. It teaches the relationship that exist between offspring and parent. It has nice illustrations and help children to expand their vocabulary and recognize animals. It promote social-emotional and cognitive development.
November 19, 2010
This goes through different young animal who are asking their parents why they are special. The parents each respond with a comment that characterizes animals. I think it is kind of cute, but not for children who may not have a mom and dad.
June 19, 2012
This is a very sweet story with a nice message. Each illustration shows an animal couple with a baby and the animals are telling the baby that it's special. The last page is of a human family. The illustrations were very well done, although the humans felt a little awkward to me. Lovely book.
February 14, 2016
With beautiful illustrations and kind, encouraging words for young children, this book is one to read before bed every night to reassure children that they are indeed loved. It was a quick read and contained larger vocabulary words that are sure to help foster a love of books.
July 30, 2009
Very sweet. I like the crayon-style illustrations in this one.
Read
July 25, 2011Sweet message-- opens up a nice conversation about what makes one special that emphasizes kindness and caring.
January 23, 2013
Tafuri's illustrations are beautiful as always and perfectly complement the story about each animal's own specialness.
January 26, 2018
A bit repetitive
July 2, 2018
I personally find this one a bit saccharine, but my toddler keeps asking for it! Three stars to split the difference in opinion.
April 30, 2019
Beautiful words to read to your child. Loved the big full color illustrations. “Dear little one, with your warm, caring heart and your bright, curious mind, you are so special, and we will love you forever and ever always.”
August 9, 2019
I gave it three stars because it did not stand out one way ore another to me.
July 2, 2022
This one came home from school for summer reading.
The drawings are nice and the message is sweet.
The drawings are nice and the message is sweet.
January 21, 2022
With soothing, rhythmic text and evocative illustrations, this book depicts a number of baby animals seeking affirmation and reassurance from their parents, who obligingly describe all the ways they are unique and special.
Children wanting a soothing bedtime read, or needing affirmations, or who would benefit from learning about different animals, will be ideal audiences for this book.
Children wanting a soothing bedtime read, or needing affirmations, or who would benefit from learning about different animals, will be ideal audiences for this book.
July 4, 2016
This book was cute, I liked it.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews