Book review: I’d Know You Anywhere, My Love by Nancy Tillman

The art of the children’s book is creating something that kids and adults can enjoy.  In reality, it’s never just one book.  The first book is upbeat and manic, while the second book has a more leisurely pace.  Some children’s books will straddle the middle area, like some of Sondra Boynton’s and some will plant their flag in the second category.  I’d Know You Anywhere, My Love by Nancy Tillman firmly sticks it in the second category, with its escapist, fun to read lines and  lush, surreal illustrations.

As a guy I read the title I’d Know You Anywhere, My Love and expect to read the literary equivalent of a Celine Dion song from the 80’s.

As a dad I read I’d Know You Anywhere, My Love and I get it.  I know what’s going to make my child put his chin to his head and laugh.  Either I’ve become a horrible stereotype of late 80’s schmaltz or this book is really good.

I’d Know  You Anwhere, My Love by Nancy Tillman is really good.  It’a a great example of a first or second book that you’d read to your children as they’re going to bed.  The illustrations are big, dreamy  and focus on the background just as much as they do on the main characters.  As a reader, this is a huge plus because you can tell side stories about the things happening in the background or other (unseen) things in the background.

The book does have similarities to its predecessor, On The Night You Were Born.  Its tone, artwork and story aren’t too different from that book.  Having said that, that book was so awesome and if you didn’t love that book you have no soul.  I kid.  But that book was great and certainly has enough mojo to create other similarly themed books.

Don’t’ get me wrong, I’d Know You Anywhere, My Love does not copy Tillman’s earlier works, but it has her signature all over it.  That is not a bad thing.  Every page of this book leaves you with a smile on your face, especially if your child has a fondness for animals.  Our oldest loves animals and immediately gravitated towards it.  If yours loves critters or Nancy Tillman’s earlier books they won’t be disappointed with I’d Know You Anywhere, My Love.