Mama Loves You Always is a concept picture book for preschool children and grades k-3 written by Lindsey Coker Luckey and illustrated by Tanya Matiikiv. What could a mother’s love to be compared with? In this warm and comforting book, the author shows how there’s really no love or loving bond as close and strong as that of a mother for her child. And while she understands that her little boy or girl wants to grow up -- yesterday! -- she hopes they realize that her joy in being with them at this time in their lives makes her almost wish they’d never grow up, but rather stay there with her forever. Her love is strong and resilient, and even misbehavior hasn’t the power to weaken that bond of love.

Lindsey Coker Luckey’s Mama Loves You Always is a warm and nurturing book that shares a mother’s emotional tie to her child in terms and with pictures designed to help a child understand. Tanya Matiikiv’s mother and baby wildlife panels are gorgeous; each one is rendered in pastel shades, and the looks of love between each baby and mom are marvelous. As I turned the pages, I marveled at the collection of animal illustrations that were prepared for this book: from horses to whales to giraffes and sheep, each picture is a joy and would work quite well framed for hanging in a child’s bedroom. Mama Loves You Always is a grand selection for a bedtime read, but it’s also written with the new reader in mind for reading on their own. Mama Loves You Always is most highly recommended.

Mama Loves You Always by Lindsey Coker Luckey is a beautiful picture book for any child. Her target audience ranges from toddlers who will love the rhythm of the poetry through pre-schoolers listening whilst entertained by the fabulous illustrations, to kindergarten and beyond when youngsters are learning to read for themselves. The underlying message, presented in countless different ways, is that the child can rely on Mama’s unconditional love that will last forever, and if there is a more important and more empowering lesson to be learned, I cannot imagine what it might be. The emphasis is on “together time” – how precious it is for Mama to share her days with her little one. Mama is even there when her child is asleep and dreaming.

Mama Loves You Always explores many aspects of the love of her mother for her child, and “Mama”, not Mom or Mum, makes for worldwide appeal. There are no humans in the watercolour illustrations – no gender, no skin colour, no disabilities – or a lack of them. Lindsey Coker Luckey uses animals – hedgehogs where Mama looks soft because her prickles are down, horses, dogs, birds, a ewe and her lamb, giraffes, elephants, dolphins, zebra, and other wild animals at peace in their natural habitat. For me, this is the essence of the whole – “With you there is nothing I could ever lack. I love you to the farthest star and back!” Mama Loves You Always by Lindsey Coker Luckey is a beautiful, inspirational book perfect for mothers and children everywhere.