Let me tell you of a power that can never be tamed,

of how I promise to love you all the same.

Something so special you must never forget,

no matter how big our family may get….

The Love That Grew, written by Sarah Ayoub, is a beautiful message from mother to children about the love she has for her family as it grows. It’s got all the feels, including those that warm your heart and those that make you giggle.

Sweeter than a slice of chocolate cake,

Stretchier than a lolly snake.

With stunning illustrations from Mimi Purnell, the pictures send you on a journey with the family of four as mum explains just how big her love for them is. In beautiful peachy hues, the illustrations are perfectly matched to the rhyming text — gentle and yet funky at the same time.

This is a different kind of rhyming picture book, and I really loved that about it. You won’t find strict metre in the story, but rather clear and consistent end rhymes throughout, that work to guide the flow as you read.

Even though my brain tried to force me to find the set rhythm at first, I quickly found exquisite joy in reading each sentence uniquely, savouring the words and enjoying the linking rhymes as I moved through the story. It’s different to many other rhyming picture books, but it works beautifully, and this type of construction seems MADE for reading aloud.

The Love That Grew is a joyful story perfect for sharing (and snuggling!).

Title: The Love That Grew
Author: Sarah Ayoub
Illustrator: Mimi Purnell
Publisher: HarperCollins, $19.99
Publication Date: 16 March 2022
Format: Hard Cover 
ISBN: 9781460761113
For ages: 3 – 6
Type: Picture Book

April 18, 2022 at 12:31AM Shaye Wardrop