I Love You More
Liza A Pierce of “A Maui Blog” | Photos: Liza Pierce
Children’s books hold a special place in my heart. Their words may be simple and their illustrations colorful and playful but the messages they carry often stay with us for a lifetime. As a parent, some of my fondest memories are the quiet moments spent reading to my children before bedtime. Those simple moments—snuggled together with a book—become treasured family traditions.
One book that always warms my heart is I Love You More by Laura Duksta. The first time I read it, it reminded me of a few other beloved children’s classics that many parents know and love: Guess How Much I Love You, I Love You Forever and Good Night Moon. To me, it felt like the sweetness of those stories all rolled into one.
I remember reading I Love You More often when my children were little. It quickly became one of those books we reached for again and again. The story is simple but touching: a mother and her child take turns describing just how big their love is. Each page becomes a playful “competition” to see who can express the greater love.
And as any parent knows, children can be wonderfully imaginative when they try to measure something as big as love.
The child begins with sweet and funny comparisons:
I love you more than the longest lollipop ever lasted.
I love you louder than the loudest rocket ship ever blasted.
Then the parent responds with love that stretches even farther:
I love you higher than the highest bird ever flew.
I love you taller than the tallest tree ever grew.
The story continues in this charming back-and-forth rhythm, each one trying to outdo the other with bigger and bigger expressions of love. It is playful, imaginative, and incredibly heartwarming.
What makes this book unique is its clever format. The story begins from one side of the book with the parent’s perspective and when you reach the middle, you flip the book over to read the child’s perspective. In a way, it beautifully shows love between a parent and child goes in both directions—and perhaps never really ends.
The rhyming words are simple yet rich with feeling. The language flows naturally, making it a joy to read aloud. Parents who regularly read bedtime stories know how important that rhythm can be. A good children’s book invites you to slow down, savor the words and enjoy the moment together.
The illustrations are just as lovely. Warm and inviting, they add another layer of emotion to the story and help bring the words to life. It is the kind of book that encourages parents and children to cuddle close and read together.
The author, Laura Duksta, has often described herself as an “Ambassador of Love.” Her mission through her books, school programs, and talks is to encourage children and adults alike to express love and appreciation more openly. The book itself began as a self-published project inspired by her desire to share that message, and it eventually grew into a bestseller that has reached families around the world.
For families, reading time can be one of the most meaningful parts of the day. In a world that often feels busy and rushed, sitting down with a child and sharing a story creates a moment of connection. It tells our children that they are important, that they are loved, and that our time together matters.
February, of course, is the month when we celebrate love on Valentine’s Day. While many people think of romantic love during this season, it is also a perfect time to remember the deep and unconditional love between parents and children.
Sometimes the simplest words say the most.
And sometimes, the biggest love can be found in the pages of a small children’s book.
If you have little ones—or even grandchildren—I Love You More is a wonderful book to add to your family reading time. It’s the kind of story that invites laughter, cuddles and perhaps a few extra “I love you’s” before bedtime.
And those are the moments our children will remember long after the story ends.
Liza Pierce of A Maui Blog is an Interactive Media enthusiast. She started blogging in 2006 and she loves talking story online and spreading aloha around the world. She’s been living on Maui since 1994 and considers Maui her home. A wife, a mother, a friend…and so much more. She loves Jesus; Maui Sunsets Catcher; Crazy About Rainbows; End Alzheimer’s Advocate. Her life is full and exciting here on the island of Maui. Liza is currently the Digital Media Specialist with Hawai‘i Life Real Estate Brokers. She is the author of the book Maui 2021 and Beyond.