In this poem addressed to a young child, author Caroline Adderson outlines the ten things a mother loves about her little one. From his scaly elbows and knees all the way to his twitchy tail, every inch of this little “monster” is itemized and admired.

Gentle and humorous illustrations by Christina Leist show how one tired parent decides to participate in a bit of rowdy play at bedtime, with the result being a happily tired child and a mother who is even more in love with her offspring than she was at the beginning of the book.

This satisfyingly unconventional bedtime story will encourage children and parents to appreciate each other just a little bit more every time they read it.