No Matter What by Debi Gliori

28 p., Harcourt, 1999. Children sometimes feel unloved when they're grumpy, and need reassurance. Such is the case with Small, a little fox. Large notices Small's irritability and asks what's wrong, and Small explains, "I'm grim and grumpy ... and I don't think you love me at all." Large explains that s/he always loves Small, and Small asks some charmingly rhymed questions to confirm this; for example, "But if I turned into a squishy bug,/would you still love me and give me a hug?" Large explains that love can be mended if that's needed, and is always with us, whether we're close together or far apart. The change in Small's mood, from cranky to calm, is clear in the watercolor and ink illustrations. With Small, children will feel soothed and secure. Ages 2-5