The 20 Best Children’s Books Like Love You Forever

Love You Forever by Robert Munsch is a beloved children’s book that has been shared by many caregivers and their children. It’s a perfect bedtime story to share while snuggling with a little one, and provides sweet comfort and love to all readers.

The 20 Best Children's Books Like Love You Forever

The book begins with a mother gently rocking her son, singing “I’ll love you forever, I’ll like you for always, as long as I’m living, my baby, you’ll be.” As the son grows up into a child, then into a rebellious teenager, and finally into an adult, the mother’s love is constant as she reminds him over and over about how she’ll love him.

When the mother grows old and frail, her son takes her up in his arms and lovingly sings the words back to her. Munsch perfectly captures how quickly children grow up in his book, and tenderly illustrates how a bond between a child and their caregiver is beautiful and everlasting.

If you adore Munsch’s book as much as we do and are on the search for other books that are similar, read on. Below we’ve compiled a list of 20 books that capture the sentimentality, the love, and the magic of Love You Forever. These titles are perfect for expressing how you feel about your little one. So pick one up, cuddle up with your beloved little one, and share these aloud. 

Meet Me at the Moon by Gianna Marino

Penguin 01313 Meet Me At The Moon Children's Book

This beautiful book is perfect to share with a little one to illustrate the concept of love. When a Mama Elephant must go away for a bit, Little One becomes nervous. In loving and reassuring words, Mama Elephant tells Little One that she is always with him.

Expressing the same theme as Munsch’s book, Meet Me at the Moon is a beautiful expression of love and can help quell fears that youngsters have about leaving their parents.

Find your copy here.

Our Love Grows by Anna Pignataro

Our Love Grows

In response to an eager panda’s questions about when they will grow older, his mother responds that he is growing. Through beautiful illustrations and tender words, the mother describes how, just like her panda son, their love grows.

Gorgeous colors and simple words will prompt discussions around growing up and how love grows.  

Find a copy of the book here.

The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn

The Kissing Hand (The Kissing Hand Series)

This beautiful book is perfect for sharing with children who are anxious or are entering into new situations, like beginning school or going to a friend’s house.

When Chester Raccoon is anxious about going to school, his mother reassures him that he will love it. To help him remember how much she loves him, she kisses his paw, telling him to hold it to his cheek any time he needs a kiss. 

Find your copy here. 

Hammer and Nails by Josh Bledsoe

Hammer and Nails

When a little girl’s playdate gets canceled, her dad swoops in to save the day by suggesting they have a daddy daughter day! They’ll do one thing from her list and then one thing from his.

As the young girl and her father have a dance party, dress up, mow the lawn and do the laundry, her father encourages her to try new things. A lovely book to share between a father and a daughter, this fun read captures the special bond the young girl and her father share throughout the pages.

Buy a copy of the book here. 

Guess How Much I Love You by Sam McBratney

Guess How Much I Love You

A comforting and sweet story featuring Little Nutbrown and Big Nutbrown, this book radiates love. As the two describe how much they love each other, each makes grand statements. 

Caregivers and youngsters will want to join in, describing how much they love each other. 

Find a copy here.

Wherever You Are, My Love Will Find You by Nancy Tillman

Wherever You Are: My Love Will Find You

Nancy Tillman has a talent for capturing in words the love between a caregiver and their child. In this book, a caregiver sends their love to their child, describing the vastness of their love.

Youngsters will feel the comfort and the reassurance in the rhythm and sweetness of these words. Pair this with one of Tillman’s others, like It’s Time to Sleep, My Love, My Love for a perfect recipe for bedtime.

Find a copy here.

Have I Ever Told You? By Shani King

Have I Ever Told You?

This beautiful, inclusive book is both encouraging and reassuring to children.  The words state how special the listener is, and encourage them to grow up to be whatever they’d like to be. 

A lovely book, the illustrations in this one are as captivating as the words. Share this to start discussions and spark some hugs.

Find a copy here.   

That’s Me Loving You by Amy Krouse Rosenthal

That's Me Loving You

Comparing a glittering star to a wink, a wave in the ocean to a wave, and a thunder clap to praise, this sweet book is a fun way to illustrate to youngsters your love for them. 

With simple text and creative metaphors, youngsters will delight in thinking about how they are wrapped up in your love. A great reminder that love is everywhere, this is a beautiful book to share with a special little one in your life. 

Buy a copy of the book here. 

Hand to Hold by JJ Heller

Hand to Hold

This sweet, rhythmic book perfectly captures the love between a child and their grown up. As the mother in this story lists out all the reasons why she loves her daughter, she reminds her that the daughter will always have her hand to hold.

If you’re searching for a picture book that’s religious, this is a great choice for you. The mother and the daughter share a prayer for the girl’s childhood that ends with “may you always know, you have my hand to hold.”

Find a copy of the book here. 

I Love You All Year Through by Stephanie Stansbie

I Love You All Year Through

A lovely, poetic book that features grown-up animals and their babies sharing different moments throughout the year, I Love You All Year Through is a perfect choice for fans of Love You Forever

With adorable illustrations and beautiful descriptions of nature, this book will nestle into your heart and will catch the attention of your little one.

Find a copy of the book here. 

I Love You, Stinky Face by List McCourt

I Love You, Stinky Face

When a mother says she loves her child, he has some questions. Wonderings like “what if I were an alligator…” are met with loving, silly answers that return over and over again to how the mother would still love him.

A silly, sweet, creative story about how much a parent loves their child, no matter what, this might just become your next favorite book to share with your little one.

Find a copy here.

Koala Lou by Mem Fox

Koala Lou

A perfect story for a new older brother or sister, this book is reassuring and comforting. When Koala Lou is little, her mom tells her “Koala Lou, I do love you.” 

As other baby koalas arrive in her family, she knows she must do something to prompt her mom to say those cherished words again.  Perfect for reminding little ones that even as families grow or change, the love between a caregiver and a child will always be irreplaceable. 

Find a copy of the book here.

I Love You to the Moon and Back by Amelia Hepworth

I Love You to the Moon And Back

While there’s no lack of children’s books featuring animals, Amelia Hepworth has penned one of the best. I Love You to the Moon and Back is a sweet story about how a Mama Bear loves her cub. She details each part of the day, stating how much she loves her baby bear.

A sweet and simple story, share this book with a special youngster to make them feel the love. 

Buy a copy of the book here.

I Wish You More by Amy Krouse Rosenthal

I Wish You More

This book is an open letter to children, wishing for their happiness, for them to be their own person, and for them to experience things throughout life. It’s an inspiring and lovable book to share with a little one and will reassure them that you are their biggest supporter.

Find a copy of the book here. 

I Love You Through and Through by Bernadette Rossetti-Shustak

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This simple rhyming book names all of the parts of a baby that are lovable, including their fingers, their toes, and their happy sides.  With adorable illustrations and catchy words, little ones will be reading along with this while feeling the warmth from the pages.

Buy the book here. 

I Wish, Wish, Wish for You by Sandra Magsamen

I Wish, Wish, Wish for You

This beautifully illustrated book makes wish, wish, wishes for children in a loving, thoughtful way. Full of diverse representation, children will see themselves in the illustrations and will feel as though this book was written for them. 

A perfect read alike to Love You Forever, the gentle yet inspiring words on these pages could be an ode from a caregiver to a child. 

Find a copy of the book here.

Love Is by Diane Adams

Love Is: (Illustrated Story Book about Caring for Others, Book About Love for Parents and Children, Rhyming Picture Book)

Children will adore this story about a young girl who watches her baby duckling grow up. As the duckling grows, the girl realizes she must let go, through the ups and downs of growing. 

Caregivers will feel the squeeze on their hearts as they flip through these pages, recognizing how the duckling symbolizes their child.  This book is sure to become one of your favorites!

Find a copy of the book here. 

I Love You Because I Love You

I Love You Because I Love You

This incredible book is sure to capture any reader’s heart. With alternating statements, beginning with “I love you because…” and then following up with “Because I love you…” readers share a wide variety of reasons to love one another.

The illustrations represent diverse examples of love and will draw readers in when they see themselves reflected on the pages. A wonderful story to share with little ones, you’ll love this book!

Buy a copy of I Love You Because I Love You here.

A Crazy-Much Love by Joy Jordan-Lake

A Crazy-Much Love

In A Crazy-Much Love, adoptive parents retell the story of how they waited for and dreamed of their baby. Theirs is crazy-much love when they meet and it continues to grow.

A sweet and beautiful book, this is a tender book for adoptive parents to share with their children.

Buy a copy of the book here.

I Love You More Than… by Taye Diggs

I Love You More Than . . .

When a father and son can’t be together, the father explains how he is always thinking of his son. A great book to share when family members can’t be close, this book is reassuring and creatively shows a parent’s love for their child.

Find a copy of the book here.  

FAQs

What other books has Robert Munsch written?

Robert Munsch has written over 70 books.  Among them are The Paper Bag Princess, 50 Below Zero, and Zoom.

Why did Robert Munsch write Love You Forever?

Robert Munsch wrote the poem “I’ll love you forever, I’ll like you for always, As long as I’m living, My baby, you’ll be” to honor his two stillborn babies. 

What authors are similar to Robert Munsch?

Authors who write similarly are Mo Willems, David Shannon, and Amy Krouse Rosenthal.

When was Love You Forever published?

The book was originally published in 1995.

What titles are similar to Love you Forever?

For a full list of great read alikes, read through the list above. Some great ones to start with are Koala Lou by Mem Fox and Wherever You Are, My Love Will Find You by Nancy Tillman.

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Amy Reddy