Stay this way forever is a wonderful picture book. The story speaks to parents as they watch their child grow while also being entertaining for kids. I love the flow of the story as well as the beautiful artwork. This is another great book by Linsey Davis.

*received for free from netgalley for honest review* 4.5 The artwork is so amazing! Can't get over how beautiful the art work is!

I read this book to my grandchildren as a bedtime story, but then read it again the next day and talked about the pictures and the ideas in the story. This was a beautiful story with amazing illustrations sharing the love parents/grandparents have for their little ones. It also highlights and encourages dreams, taking chances (safe ones), being a friend, caring and so many of those wonderful character traits and values we want our little ones to have. The illustrations by Lucy Fleming add much to the story. They show families, children, and friends together in vibrant, large images that show emotion and action in each one. We read this one several times over the weekend each reading ending in a huge, loving hug. I recommend this to all families and think it would make a wonderful gift for expectant parents.

The nephew and I got a little extra snuggly while reading this one. And I managed not to cry, which, pet me.

This gorgeously illustrated book is all about the magic of childhood. Of spending time with little ones, and seeing the world through their eyes. It's about retaining those memories of little ones, and how we all want to hold them just a little tighter when we realize they're going to grow up. And we want them not to, so, so much.

Seriously, I cannot emphasize enough that this is a punch to the tear ducts. In the best possible way.

Stay This Way Forever is written from the perspective of a mother watching her children. Each page is filled with eye-catching illustrations and sweet rhyming verse, as the mother tells her little ones everything she loves about them, and begs them to never lose their sweetness and their sense of wonder. I kept hearing the song "I Hope You Dance" playing in my head as I read this book to my own children. As a mother, this book is relatable and fun to read. All three of my children loved it and have already asked to read it again.

*I received a complimentary copy of Stay This Way Forever through the publisher and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own. My positive review is not required.

Rating: 5⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐!!!!!!!!!
Book: Stay This Way Forever
Release Date: AVAILABLE NOW-Released February 23, 2021
Author: Linsey Davis
Genre: Children's Fiction

This book saddened me and brought me such joy at the same time. The sadness was thinking about my sweet children growing up and getting older. The joy is the times that we have already spent together and the time we will spend in the future. Linsey Davis wrote this book as if she was in my home and in my heart. The illustrations were so crisp and soft. And of course, I loved seeing a black family that was being seen in a positive, normal light. I would recommend this book to all moms and children under the age of 10.

Thank you to @NetGalley and @Zonderkidz for an advanced copy of @StayThisWayForever

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Anyone who has ever watched a child grow as wished for time to slow. This cute picture book by Linsey Davis plays off of that desire. "Stay This Way Forever" talks about staying adventures, fearless, creative, inquisitive, sensitive, etc. We has adults often forget what it was like to see the world through child's eyes. What if we never stopped seeing the world as we once did? Oh, how much more beautiful the world would be.

We as a family are huge fans of Linsey's book, One Big Heart. This newest one she knocks it out of the park. I had tears in the eyes reading it and my husband even choked up a little. Stay This Way Forever has been one of the top requested books in our house for our 5 year old, and I can see her requesting it for a very long time. Amazing book!

This is one of the sweetest picture books, perfect for children and their mommies to read again and again!

I highly recommend that every one who looks at this book gets a copy!

I voluntarily received and reviewed a complimentary e/copy of this book which I received from the author/publisher. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

I received an electronic ARC from Zonderkidz-Books through NetGalley.
Lovely illustrations and beautiful text. Davis has created a touching book to show how much a parent loves their child. She expresses the wish that our children will remain dreamers and explorers knowing they have a safe haven to return to. The illustrations capture the power of the words. Readers can feel the action happening as they see the encouragement unfold.

Stay This Way Forever is a great bedtime story to read to your children to reassure them of the love and wishes you have for them. In it, a mother talks about how she hopes her child will stay creative and kind and happy forever, and that she will be there for him to protect him and help through the hard days. The illustrations are absolutely gorgeous. Stay This Way Forever is definitely a feel-good book that makes the reader feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

Note: I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley. I was not compensated in any other fashion for the review and the opinions reflected below are entirely my own. Special thanks to the publisher and author for providing the copy.

This is a beautifully illustrated book of love from parent to child. As the mother holds dear to the memories of joy, curiosity, and imagination, she hopes her children will carry those child-like qualities with them as they grow older. She hopes for them to stay true to who they are and carry their loving bond with them forevermore. She prays they will stay this way forever.

As a parent of a teenage child, I find this book so touching. The memories of the child-like innocence, the snuggles, and the imagination that you long to remain for just a bit longer.

Thank you Netgalley for the advanced copy for my honest opinion.

Another hit from Linsey Davis! As with her other books, this one has beautiful verse and bright, eye catching illustrations. This is a story my boys will enjoy, but it's also fun for me to read. All of Davis' books make me sentimental and this new one is no exception.

Thank you Zonderkidz-Books and NetGalley for the advance digital reading copy of this book.

This is going to be my new baby shower gift recommendation!

This book beautifully explains how important it is to hang on to the memories of your child as they grow up because they grow up too quickly. The illustrations highlight the text with beautiful muted colors, my favorite images were the nighttime illustrations.

This is a beautifully told and illustrated book encapsulating a mother's hopes and dreams for her children. I felt like I was a child again, listening to my mother, and imagined how I could one day say this to my children. This is a story of love & would make the perfect bedtime story for your little one to remind them how much they are loved. The illustrations are gorgeous, and I love the fact that the MC are Black because representation MATTERS.

Eh, I'll be honest...I didn't really care all that much for Linsey Davis' <em>Stay This Way Forever</em>. I suppose I should have known better, since the title basically gives away exactly what this book is about. But I think I was blinded by the dazzling illustrations Lucy Fleming brought the book to life with. And I think that's fair; they are gorgeous, after all.

<b>The Story</b>

This is the part where I tell you, honestly, that the story sucked. There's no great message to it, in fact it's actually kind of troubling in a small way. This book wasn't exactly written for kids at all. Sure, it's kind of a love letter from mom to her children. But, at the same time, it's really not a <em>good </em>thing for a mom to be asking her child to stay a child forever. And, at the end of the day, this is mom throwing her emotions into the world. In essence, it means nothing good for the kid.

I get that there's emotions involved and parents often feel a desire for kids to stay young and innocent...but it's an unrealistic wish and it never really makes anyone feel good when someone says it to them. Stay this way forever? You mean, never grow? Never change? Never improve yourself? Come on. What message are we sending here?

The emotion may be innocent, but that doesn't mean it's a good message.

<b>The Artwork</b>

Okay, so I clearly picked this book up because I was enamored by the beautiful illustrations. Can you really blame me? They're phenomenal. Every single page is filled with beautiful colors, diverse characters, and <em>amazing</em> scenes. I loved every single page, really, if we're just talking about the art. And I think the kids, at least, will like the beautiful pictures that this book offers.

I just wish the story had been worthwhile enough to go with them.

<b>Conclusion</b>

Alright, I know I'm perhaps being a bit harsh. But, to be fair, I also hate <em>I'll Love You Forever</em> for pretty much this same reason. That story was utterly ridiculous and disturbing, infinitely more so than this one. What sort of <em>grown</em> woman drives to her <em>adult</em> son's home to hold and rock him in bed while he's sleeping? How is that <em>not creepy</em>? This one, at least, doesn't delve into creepy infantilizing territory. But it does insist upon this idea that a kid should stay a kid forever.

This isn't a story for the children, it's a story for mom. It's a story for the mom who is too attached to her children to want them to grow up and experience life and become amazing people. And I'm sorry, but that message is terrible.

<em>I was provided a free copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.</em>

I had tears in my eyes while reading this one. It beautifully encapsulates the hopes and dreams parents have for their children with illustrations that match it all perfectly. There is diversity, as well. I felt the love in every word. Highly recommended.

Absolutely gorgeous illustrations!!! I love how enchanting and warm all the moments are as this mother shares her love with her kids. The prose is a bit of a mouthful, but the rhyming lines make this story ripe for repeated and shared tellings.

Great for fans of "I'll Love You Forever," who want to share with their little ones how cherished and loved they are.

This book is about a loving caregiver's, in this case, a mother's wish and promise. It was clearly written with love as the narrator explains the joy she receives from watching her child dance and the promise she makes that she will be there to help her child when he struggles with life's obstacles. The illustrations are full of color, imagination, and life.

This is a beautifully illustrated and heartfelt prayer every parent feels for their child each day. The text flows easily as a read-aloud and I can see this becoming a favorite book just like Guess How Much I Love You or I'll Love You Forever.

As a children's librarian, I am always looking for more diverse picture books and authors to fill our shelves so the books reflect all of the children we serve. This will make a great addition to a home library or a public library so families can share this book together.