Haus-Hold Picture Book Review: More Than You Imagine

A Beautiful Ode to Families by Debut Author,

Thelia Hutchinson

My friend Thelia Hutchinson is always the first to celebrate the wins of others in the kidlit community. She lifts up kidlit creators with heartfelt enthusiasm, and her kindness is contagious. See for yourself! Check out my interview with Thelia or say hello on X/Twitter. You can also connect with her in the Mighty KidLit platform!

If you haven't interacted with Thelia before, I encourage you to get to know her better by reading her beautiful debut picture book, MORE THAN YOU IMAGINE, illustrated by Adriana Predoi (Soaring Kite Books, 2024). Thelia's touching ode to families exudes warmth and tenderness, with each lyrical phrase ringing true to her caring and compassionate personality. Predoi's inclusive illustrations bring the words to life on each page of this lovely book.

"Hutchinson and Predoi have created a memorable book that tells every child that they are loved more than they can imagine."

Synopsis

A tribute to the hopes, dreams, and unconditional love that parents have for their children, MORE THAN YOU IMAGINE plants the seeds of encouragement and connectedness and invites families to cultivate a deep, everlasting bond.

What my Kids Loved: Hutchinson's lyrical prose is perfect for bedtime, and my youngest enjoyed hearing this story as we snuggled up together in our rocking chair. He enjoyed Predoi's colorful and inviting illustrations, especially the page where a family goofs around together and a mother holds a green onion under her nose. That page had him giggling! He loved the way that each spread depicted different families in different scenarios and pointed out what everyone was doing.

What I Loved: As a mom, I enjoyed cuddling up with my littlest one and reading from my heart. The message of unconditional love is so tenderly delivered through Hutchinson's gentle prose and Predoi's dreamy illustrations. As a parent, it's a wonderful feeling to find a book that so perfectly puts into words the indescribable feeling of love we have for our children.

As a writer, I appreciated the way the text and illustrations worked together to show how the love and bond of a family is universal. Hutchinson and Predoi have created a memorable book that tells every child that they are loved more than they can imagine.

My favorite lines:

More than you imagine,

we will...

Grow together,

Share together.

Wipe each other's tears.

Final thoughts: This book is a timeless expression of love that's perfect for any family. With its beautiful message and inclusive illustrations, it's a wonderful addition to any library. This sweet story would make a great gift for a baby shower!

You can request More Than You Imagine from your local library or purchase from Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and other retailers- but don't forget to check your local independent bookstore first!