I Like You
By Sandol Stoddard Warburg
The Story
A warm, wandering list of reasons friendship matters, from knowing exactly where someone's ticklish to sticking together through pig-eating swamps and quicksand, real or imagined.
Why It's Special
For the kid who wants to hear, in a hundred different small ways, that they're loved exactly as they are — this book just keeps saying it.
- Big idea: Friendship isn't one big gesture — it's a thousand tiny, specific ones, noticed and named.
- Vibes: Tender, funny, quietly sincere — like a love letter that doesn't take itself too seriously.
Perfect For Kids Who
- love hearing why they're special, in specific detail
- enjoy quirky, funny comparisons and odd little scenarios
- are working on understanding what makes a good friend
- respond well to gentle, list-like read-aloud rhythms
Ask Your Little Reader
- Story & imagination: What do you think a swamp full of pig-eating creatures would actually look like?
- Real-life connection: Is there something silly about you that a friend or family member knows and loves, like being ticklish in one certain spot?
- Feelings & empathy: How does it feel when someone notices something small and specific about you?
- Reflection: If you made your own list of 'I like you because...', what's the first thing you'd put on it?
- Real-life connection: Who is someone you'd want to give this book to, and why?
