For Infinity and Beyond is a picture book for children written by Terri Peel Bechtold. School would be starting the very next day, but summer still was very much alive for Mom and her two daughters, Kendi and Taye. They were celebrating the last day of summer with a day of sun and surf at the beach. Mom knew it was going to be a fabulous day, and she was excited as she woke up her daughters. Kendi and Taye already had their bathing suits and beach gear ready, but as they rushed around to get dressed, Kendi stopped to tell her mom how much she appreciated her and the way she had made their last day of summer so special. Her mom answered simply and from her heart: “Always remember and never forget, I love you every second.” And her daughters, led by Taye, spontaneously answered with the same words of love. As the years went on, and Kendi and Taye grew from being little girls to preteens and then young adults, one thing was always a certainty for them. They were loved.

For Infinity and Beyond is a simply told and eloquent expression of a mother’s love for her children and that reciprocal love her children feel for her. The author captures the timelessness and permanence of that bond with the repeated refrain which becomes more involved as the years pass and their shared relationship grows. I especially enjoyed seeing the beach episodes and watching as the mom’s love and her family transcend time. The illustrations are brightly colored and cheerful, and each panel follows the story perfectly. This is a grand selection for bedtime or story time; however, the relatively simple vocabulary and repeated refrains makes this an excellent primer for a young reader to try on their own. For Infinity and Beyond is highly recommended.

Terri Peel Bechtold, the author of the enchanting little book For Infinity and Beyond, has written this charming story of the life of a mother and her precious daughters, Kendi and Taye, from the perspective of imbuing grace and thankfulness in the little girls. Mom has planned to spend the last day of the summer holidays with her daughters at the beach. A beautiful moment happens just as Mom has woken her daughters and is getting them ready for the day. One of the daughters suddenly turns and thanks her mother for making their last day of summer so special. This simple act made me nostalgic and brought back memories of my own mother. I wondered if all of us really thank our mothers for all the beautiful things they do for their children, which we soon forget and never bring to mind again as the years pass! Mom reminds them both how much she loves them by saying, “Always remember and never forget, I love you every second!” If one pauses and reflects on Mom's words, one is filled with thankfulness for all the blessings of life endowed upon us, and the debt of gratitude one owes to one's parents.

For Infinity and Beyond narrates the most important little events that make up our lives, second by second, minute by minute, right up to hours, days, and years for infinity and beyond. To me it was clear that while writing this book, Terri Peel Bechtold must have pondered long over the power of love and family, which gives the impression of the love that holding hands and sharing love brings. And so love remains alive for infinity and beyond. A beautiful little book with very nice illustrations, an important message, and a lesson for mothers to share with their children: to hold their hand and say, “Always remember and never forget, I love you ..." The illustrations were cute and apt for the story and the cover was very nice. This book is an important one to keep in the library for mothers with children, and to read out to children again and again as they grow up and themselves become parents. Well done.