Sometimes ...

Emma Dodd's Love You Books

by Emma Dodd

A mama elephant knows her baby and all of his moods. Sometimes you're happy. Sometimes you're sad. Sometimes you're good. Sometimes you're bad.

But no matter what, one special little elephant will always know his mother's love. The love shines on the foil-splashed, padded cover and all the way through this color-saturated book.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Animals, Storytime, Love, Family, Juvenile

20 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2007

About the author

Emma Dodd Author/Illustrator

Emma was brought up in Guildford, Surrey, in a family of artists and from as far back as she can remember she has wanted to be an illustrator.
Emma studied Graphic Design and Illustration at Central Saint Martin's School of Art and has worked extensively in advertising, editorial and book illustration.
She was nominated for the Booktrust Early Years Award in 2006 for her book "What Pet to Get" and in 2009 for "Miaow said the Cow"
Emma lives in Surrey with her husband and two children, who provide inspiration for her work, and their Jack Russel Terrier, Bart, who keeps her fit. She likes to spend any spare time in North Cornwall, surfing and walking in all weathers.

Reviews

[Dream.M]

این سری کتابا خیلی خوبن، اشک آدم درمیاد

[Cyndi]

Our newest reader in the house, Miss S, age 3 months, loves this sweet book! The art is lovely with shiny but relaxing colors to catch the eye and the story is so very heartwarming.

[Haniyeh]

But no matter what you say or do,
I always love you :)

[Evie]

This is adorable, but is it wrong to say that my favorite part was the shininess of the illustrations? The silver is just so beautifully incorporated that even I was ooh-ing over the prettiness.

[Andrew]

I liked: the hug I get at the end.
she liked: acting out all the feelings in the book.

[cat]

save me children’s book that is not meant for me save me

[Leslie]

Such a fun book for Valentine's Day at Baby Storytime. Emma Dodd gets all the feels!

[Mommooshka]

Nice sentiment about unconditional love. Lovely simple illustrations. The love between the mother elephant and it's child are apparent in the subtle drawings.

I do, however, have a problem with labeling the child with their behaviors. Child psychologists teach that you should be careful to tell a child that their behavior is bad, they are not bad. Children learn to believe what they're told by those they love and trust, and can grow to believe that they are a bad child. Unfortunately, this simple story does not make that distinction.

I think it's important to read it to kids with their open, absorbent minds by changing the words as you read it from: Sometimes you're good, sometimes you're bad. to: Sometimes you do things that are good, sometimes you do things that are bad.

Otherwise, a lovely book.

[Michele]

I am a graphic designer and the paper and inks used for this book are out of this world. Foil stamping. Pantones. Thick, glossy paper that doesn't leave fingerprints. This book is a work of art. And the story is just as good--a short, sweet book, perfect for bedtime with little ones. Recommend.

[Madison]

The title we have at the library is "Always" but I'm pretty sure it's the same text.

Great one on one story for bedtime.

[Leo and Ian]

apparently this is a new edition of the same book entitled "no matter what". would make a great gift book.

[Tracy Schillemore]

Short, simple text.

[Bianca Orellana]

Sweet, as always!

[Denise Menger]

Message is nice, but language isn't great. Young elephant is referred to as "good" and "bad".

[Paige]

Absolutely obsessed with the baby elephant's eyes.

[Trisha]

The book I borrowed has the title "Always". It's the same cover. I assume it's the same book. Books that describe a playful child as bad or misbehaving don't sit right with me. If you tell a playful child they are bad, you are bringing down their spirit. The scene where the young elephant is being mean to the insect is clearly not nice, not playful. I don't want any young reader believing that their silly, playful nature is "bad" or "misbehaving". The tired parent may not like it, but it's no reason to call it a bad thing.

[Ailish O’Sullivan]

We usually love Emma Dodd's books but this one disappointed us. First of all the rhymes and the rhythm of the story didn't really work?? Second of all, although we understand that the author was trying to highlight opposites here, my mom really didn't like some of the wording like "sometimes you're good, sometimes you're bad" and "sometimes you're nice, sometimes you're mean". She says behaviours can be labelled as bad but she doesn't think kids should be. Maybe she's getting too hung up on semantics here but yah, this one wasn't our favourite.

[Sarah]

This is an OK book - It is simple and short, and I do really like the illustrations. The message of unconditional love is, of course, very nice. I always dislike calling children "bad" even if it is only
"sometimes". Naughty seems more accurate, but, of course, wouldn't rhyme. I read this book with groups of parents and two year olds as part of an opposites storytime - the little ones definitely did not find it riveting.

[Kristen Jett]

Super cute book with fancy illustrations....but I have really strong feelings about calling a child bad. "Sometimes you're good, and sometimes you're bad." Um, no. Sometimes you behave well, and sometimes you don't.

So, super nitpicky but I wouldn't ever read this to my child without altering wording.

[Gwen]

I got two different copies of this same story, not realizing that "No Matter What" and "Always" were the same story. The copy I have of Always has use of foil in the illustrations and that's probably the only different I can see between the two.
I loved this one. It's a short sweet story about loving your little one no matter what.

[Megan]

This is very cute. I like the illustrations and the simple text. I also like that you don't have to turn the page to complete a thought (that's a pet peeve of mine for toddler books, because sometimes my toddler has asked three questions by the time we turn the page and by then the next phrase feels like a nonsequitor!). Great read for a young child.

[Sandie]

Not part of the love you series but still super cute with great illustrations.

I just love this writers books. This one is as usual short and sweet and still with an impactful message that regardless of how you are bad or good, clean or dirty, scared or mad you are still so very loved just the way you are.

[Kelly]

This series by Emma Dodd is wonderfully written in such a way that it reaches the youngest of readers, delivering a deep message.

In this book, mama elephant is telling her baby that she will always love him, no matter if he is naughty or good, clean or dirty, happy or sad.

[Tiffany May Ross]

I love this simple rhyming story! It’s perfect for a 2 to 3 year old... maybe older (but I haven’t tested that yet :) ) The illustrations are fun but the real treasure is that Dodd manages to convey big truths in short simple poetic lines.

[Elias]

E: I learned about emotions. I liked it when he was happy.i didn't like it when he was not happy. I liked it when he was being good. It's not the best book.

Parent: a sweet book, especially for younger ages, affirming that no matter what they do or feel, they are loved.

[Shannon Goodrich]

Six year old says: we checked out this book always after reading everything. In everything the bill had gold flecks. In always the book has silver. The book has rhymes so I was able to guess a few of the words because of the rhyme like brave and misbehave and clean and mean.

[Meredith]

Love these shiny pages.

[Rachel]

We love this book. The illustrations are lovely and shimmery. The silver on the ‘clean’ page is my favorite. Beautiful book I’ve read hundreds of times to my little one!

[Diana]

Great book. I'm using it for my pre-school playtime about elephants. The book is gently written and the illustrations are gorgeous. Love!

[Nancy]

Simple but sweet.