Always with You, Always with Me

by Kelly Rowland, Jessica McKay, Fanny Liem (Illustrator)

A loving ode to modern motherhood by Kelly Rowland and Jessica McKay

Grammy Award–winning artist Kelly Rowland and educator Jessica McKay have crafted a lyrical celebration of working moms everywhere and a soothing story for their children. As a mother gets ready to go to work, first she works on building the world for her child. Because it can sometimes be hard to be separated during the day, Mom collects some simple words that she and her child can repeat whenever they are missing each other or feeling overwhelmed:

Always with you,
always with me,
mommy and child,
together we'll be.

For any child who needs a little reassurance or just to share a sweet gesture of affection, Always with You, Always with Me is a loving tribute to families that honors the work a mother does both inside and outside of the home.

Genres: Picture Books, Love, Family, Childrens, Fiction, African American

40 pages, Hardcover

Published April 26, 2022

Reviews

[Gabrielle Stoller · Rating 4 out of 5]

AS a working mom, who both loves her job and loves her little girl, this book was an absolute delight for me to read. Truly, my Audrey is never far from my thoughts as I work. And I want her to always know that.

Other thing I loved about this book--it was a family of color with both a mom and a dad who have healthy relationships with each other, have good jobs, etc. I feel that is representation we need to see more of in picture books. It is just as much of a windows/mirrors moment as other racial topics.

[Panda Incognito · Rating 4 out of 5]

This beautifully illustrated picture book celebrates the bond between a working mother and her child, showing how they can feel connected throughout the day. The repetitive refrain in the text is reassuring, and the pictures show mom and her child dealing with challenges and joys both together and apart.

I only have two critiques. One is that I wish the tagline was something other than "a loving ode to modern motherhood," since it can imply negativity towards stay-at-home moms. I am sure that wasn't the intent, but different phrasing could emphasize working mothers without equating a job outside the home to modernity.

I also wish that the dad hadn't seemed like such a third wheel to the mom and child. Of course, the book is designed to emphasize the mother/child bond, but I sometimes felt like the dad was an afterthought, appearing in the illustrations without being included in the refrain about the mom and child's special relationship.

[Emma · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mediocre but not entirely surprising for a celebrity picture book. The text almost rhymes. But not always. Saying look for “magic traces” for the mother and son to remind each other they’re around felt weird. Father was a non entity and skirted around childcare which felt especially weird when clearly both parents are working.

I will say the art is beautiful and it is nice to see a Black working mother in a high power job (architect).

[Zibby Owens · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's rare for a children's book to the mother to be so prominent. Usually, the focal point is the child. This book focuses on the parent and provides the mom's the perspective of what happens when she has to go to work and leave her child for the day. They both struggle with the separation, the tears, and the anxiety. This book honors all the moms for their work inside and outside of the home. But it also reminds us that no matter where we are, our mothers love us.

To listen to my interview with the authors, go to my podcast at:
https://zibbyowens.com/transcript/kel...

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't know Kelly wrote a book 😮😮
It's cute too.

First off, I love how the week starts on Monday -- because that's how it should be 🙃. But in all seriousness, I love how everyday is a new type of "miss" you know.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[DeeReads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a cute and whimsical book!

[StoryTimeReadAloud · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a tribute to working mothers who work hard and love their children. It acknowledges that the child and mother miss each other, with observations of things that the other might not see, but that they can see magic traces of the other in the things that they do. The book goes through the week, Monday through Sunday, showing accomplishments that the mother and child can have, and having a recitation every day of how they are together even when apart.
"When I leave for work, you may think I'm not around,
But if you look closely, you'll see I can be found.
Traces of magic here and there
Show that we are an inseparable pair.
Always with you,
Always with me,
Mommy and child
Together we'll be."

The artwork features an African-American family, two parents, an aunt. The colors are deep. The artwork and words go well together.

[Christie Kaaland · Rating 5 out of 5]

A tribute to working mothers everywhere, this delightful tale starts before the young boy wakes up as his mother confesses to getting his world ready for him. With a light magical tone, mom tells the young boy (and you, the reader) to look for her magic throughout the day: in his lunch box, in the pictures on the wall, in the blanket tucked in before falling asleep later in the week at... maybe it's dad's house? The illustrations depict a beautiful, always smiling mom who confidently continually convinces the young boy that she is always close by.

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an electronic ARC from Viking Books for Young Readers through Edelweiss+.
Heartwarming story about the bonds between a mother and child. Though mom has to work and sometimes has to travel, they are always connected by love. The simple rhyme they share helps each focus when they are feeling lonely or sad. Beautifully drawn illustrations support the story and bring out the love too. A must have for families.

[Nicole Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a working Mom, I totally connected with this book. Finding the balance of motherhood and career is constant as well as helping your kids understand that just because you are away, doesn’t mean you don’t miss them as much as they miss you. This book is a great way to open that conversation with kids and show them how they can help you. Plus, it’s written by Kelly Rowland of Destiny’s Child; always a win in my book.

[Debra · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you are seeking a book to help a child understand that working mothers are always loving and cherishing their children, though they are not always together, this is the book for you. Illustrations by Fanny Liem wonderfully capture the joy, warmth, and love of time together as well as time apart. (Look closely at the pictures!) Kelly Rowland and Jessica McKay have created an ode to the love from working parents to their children in this pretty picture book.

[AMY · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great story with rhyming parts that feature a mom, dad, and their son who misses mom when she is at work. It is a reassuring story that kids will find comfort in. I love the expressions and tenderness of the illustrations throughout. I only wish the mom had stayed home when the boy was sick one day. It is a great book for working parents to share with their kids. Highly recommended for Grades K-5.

[Vickie McEntire · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Always with You, Always with Me," is a story told from the mom's POV about reassuring her little boy when she has to leave to go to work. Mom creates a short rhyme they say together, which is repeated for each day of the week, except on Saturday. It changes a little for that day. The illustrator, Fanny Liem, steals the show with the way her beautiful images capture the emotions of the story.

[Jackson Smithline · Rating 5 out of 5]

You just can’t not love a book about a mother who loves her children and this book is a great modern representation of motherhood, of course this is coming from a single 23 year old white guy so take what I say with a grain of salt, but the story reminded me of my time living with my own mom and made me happy all the same.

[Ellon · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars (I liked it)

I probably would have given this 2 stars based on the plot but the illustrations elevated it a bit. I thought the text was a bit clunky. It does have a repeated refrain but I didn't love that either. This book felt like it was written to make working moms feel less guilty. I can see how it could be helpful for the child but overall I found it a bit pedantic.

[Kaprisha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Couldn't wait to read this one was really good kids will love it growing up didnt want my mom to keep going to this book will help children understand there love ones is always with them was able to read it on my library app

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a super sweet story about a mom helping her young child deal with separation anxiety. This isn't one that I'll use for a library lesson but I'm glad to have it available for teachers and students to check out.

[Faith Barber · Rating 2 out of 5]

In this sweet book told from a mother's perspective, a mom reminds her child throughout the work week that traces of magic that time them together can always be found. This is a lovely tale of how families juggle work and life and still find time for connection.

[Rachel Willis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely little poem. Great book about how hard it is for a little boy to be away from his mommy when she goes to work and vice versa. Very well done. Explains work without making it bad.

Nice drawings as well.

[Fredericka Ohene · Rating 5 out of 5]

A loving book that reminds children with hard-working parents that they are always with them and that what they do is all for them. I relate to this because I have immigrant parents who work very hard to help their children succeed.

[Faloni © · Rating 5 out of 5]

😎📲 🦖🛹 💚My mom always
saves the day. ⁉️👀🙀🤰🏾💫

[Deetimes Stanton Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a cute but whimsical children's book

[Leova Manbhat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet book to remind children that even when mom is away at work, traces of her will always be around.

[Madlyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good book.

[Pam Page · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a beautiful, sweet picture book! This is a must for all classrooms, school libraries, AND homes!

[Clementine]

i think the text is clunky, but the message is sweet.

[Candice · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a cute book

[Katherine Kerber · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book for moms whose babies are missing them at work.

[Louise · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars