What are some ways you know your family loves you, even when they're not right next to you?

This is a discussion prompt for Love Waves by Rosemary Wells. Use it to spark conversation with your child after reading.

How do you feel when your parents or guardians go to work or are away? What helps you feel better?

This is a discussion prompt for Love Waves by Rosemary Wells. Use it to spark conversation with your child after reading.

Can you imagine sending "love waves" to someone you love? Who would you send them to and why?

This is a discussion prompt for Love Waves by Rosemary Wells. Use it to spark conversation with your child after reading.

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Love Waves

Name: Love Waves
ISBN: 9780763649890

by Rosemary Wells

When parents go to work, they send invisible love waves to their child at home, offering warmth and comfort until they are reunited at the end of the day.

About This Book

While they are at work a mother and father send powerful "love waves" to their child at home, offering reassurance and comfort in their absence.

Concepts

Love & Family Anxiety & Worry Empathy & Kindness Self-Confidence & Identity Resilience & Perseverance Joy & Gratitude Parent Deployment Family & Siblings

Heads up, parents

separation_from_parent

Wonderlit Review

Rosemary Wells' "Love Waves" is a gentle, rhyming picture book that addresses the common childhood experience of missing parents when they are away. The narrative centers on a child at home while their mother and father are at work. From their respective workplaces, the parents send powerful, invisible "love waves" to their child, which the child feels as a comforting and reassuring presence. The story is told with a soothing rhythm and rhyme, making it accessible and engaging for young listeners. The book handles the sensitive topic of separation anxiety directly but metaphorically, using the concept of "love waves" as a tangible representation of enduring parental affection. This approach is universally applicable and secular, focusing on the emotional connection rather than specific circumstances. The emotional arc is one of gentle reassurance; it acknowledges the initial feeling of absence but quickly shifts to a hopeful and secure resolution, leaving the child feeling loved and connected. This book is specifically for preschool and early elementary children, particularly those aged 4-8, who may be experiencing mild to moderate separation anxiety, adjusting to new routines like daycare or school, or simply missing their parents during the day. A parent would reach for this book when their child is struggling with goodbyes, expressing sadness about parental absence, or needing a comforting bedtime story to reinforce security. Parents might consider discussing the concept of "love waves" with their child before reading, perhaps even practicing sending imaginary waves to each other, to help solidify the metaphor. Younger children (4-6) will appreciate the simple text and the concrete image of love traveling, while slightly older children (7-8) can grasp the deeper metaphorical meaning and use it as a tool for self-soothing. While many books address separation, "Love Waves" stands out by offering an imaginative, active coping mechanism, empowering children to feel and receive love even when physically apart.