I Tell You That I Love You - by Pi Kids & Tanaya Winder (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

I Tell You That I Love You
"I tell you that I love you and you say, "I love you, too."
You sing it so sweetly I know that it's true.

From author Tanaya Winder, a member of the Duckwater Shoshone Tribe, this joyful poem celebrates the bond between a child and parent against the backdrop of the natural world. As the sun rises, a mother and daughter start their day together at the river, skipping stones. They continue walking, stopping to picnic in the meadow, shelter from the rain, and praise the redwoods. The poem captures how secure these two human beings are in their love for each other as well as their respect for the nature surrounding them. (You tell me to embrace who I'm meant to be / and let the stars be a reminder - I have everything I need.) Alongside them, animal parents and their babies - deer, foxes, eagles, and more - can be seen in the artwork. Traditional artist Kiyary Domiguez's vivid scenes are done in oils. They capture the gorgeous light from sunrise to sunset, and the energy and emotion of each moment.

Review Quotes

"I tell you that I love you and you say, 'I love you, too.'/ You speak it so strongly I know that it's true," begin the short, singsong lines of this picture book set firmly in the natural world. As a caretaker and child, portrayed with pale skin and wearing wreathed flowers, meander through a sweeping landscape, the younger muses on various lessons taught by the older, including those of empowerment and self-love. A member of the Duckwater Shoshone Tribe, Winder employs affirming, frequently comparative messages via rigorous rhyme ("A relative's love is sacred, like the thunder and rains/ that feed Mother Earth, from her mountains to her plains"), while scribbly-styled illustrations from Dominguez follow the two characters out-of-doors, frequently flanked by animals, from daylight to sunset. Ages 4-8. (Dec.)--Publishers Weekly "https: //www.publishersweekly.com/9798384602101" (10/3/2025 12:00:00 AM)