Simple yet heartwarming, I Will Always Be Proud of You by Michael Wong is a storybook that is very attuned to parents feeling proud and appreciative of their child. It has a very simple storyline: A parent is fondly looking at her child, feeling a strong sense of love and pride, and from here, the parent takes you on a journey of narrating great dreams and possibilities for the future of her child. Any loving parent can relate to this. As you flip through the pages, you are taken into the many colorful possibilities that the child could become upon growing up: a musician, an environmentalist, a visual artist, a culinary expert, and a firefighter, just to mention a few. Another attraction that this storybook offers is its arresting illustrations that take into consideration children’s visual development and learning skills.

I Will Always Be Proud of You ticks all the boxes when it comes to quality reading time with your child. For starters, this is a great book for beginning readers and mastering phonics, as kids will learn to connect the sounds that go with letters—thanks to its concise sentences and brilliant rhyming. Having said that, it makes for a great read-aloud book, whether you are reading it to your child during bedtime or as a storytelling activity in class. Even reluctant readers will find the book appealing, as it is well-complemented by a solid and colorful illustration courtesy of Zina Lugai. Moreover, Michael Wong doesn’t skimp on providing admirable life lessons such as aspirations, acceptance, happiness, and even diversity. This is a book that will appeal to children of all ages and it is also a great gift-giving idea.

I Will Always Be Proud of You, by Michael Wong, is a 50-page-long illustrated children’s picture book about what a child might become when he or she grows up. Sometimes I find that children’s books are just as suited for parents as they are for young readers. By that, I mean they can help present a pattern of thinking, an attitude that is helpful for the adults who buy it. I believe this book is one of those. This is a book about parents, perhaps expecting their first child, or holding a baby in their arms. They wonder what life will hold for their little one, and their dreams reach the stars. Will the child be an artist, a doctor, or someone who explores space? Will they find a way to help the Earth be a better place to live? All sorts of possibilities are explored.

The artwork of this book is a treasure: professional, colorful and vivid. It shines with the same intensity as the words on the pages, helping to promote the dreams the author imagines. But even more inspiring about this book is that no matter what the child becomes, the parent will always love the child and show pride in who they are. The words, “I wish you happiness and no matter what you choose to do,” coupled with the promise of love and pride, help set the course of a child on a positive path in which they can be free to explore all the opportunities in front of them. I Will Always Be Proud of You, by Michael Wong, comes highly recommended.