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In 2017, the fortieth year since Elvis Presley's sudden passing, two illustrators each released a picture book version of the Elvis song "Love Me Tender" from the 1956 movie of the same name. In this version, illustrator Stephanie Graegin frames the lyrics not as a romantic love song, but one of family devotion for a newborn baby as it grows.

Seeing your baby for the first time is a revelation. You burp the infant as needed, read to him or her, feed and play with the child. Enjoying nature together is a nice way to decompress, and by the time the baby has its first birthday you'll feel you've been together forever. Through activities practical or whimsical, and all seasons of the year, a consistent loving relationship keeps the child's feet on the ground so he or she is confident venturing out and discovering life.

Love is best conveyed through actions. It's more important to behave in loving ways than express lovely sentiments, but when carefully crafted words support one's actions to affirm love, they are a blessing. The recipient of eloquently declared love has those words as reminder of precisely what they mean to that person. It's a gift from the heart and mind, and "Love Me Tender" is a shining example.

The version of the song in this book has a different ending than most people know, but Stephanie Graegin's cute, warm illustrations depict the love of parent and child to exquisite effect. I appreciate the various Elvis "Easter eggs" hidden in the pictures, such as the children being dropped off at Graceland Preschool, and the endnote from Priscilla Presley is a perfect fit. I believe Elvis would be happy to see his music used as it is in this book. I hope it ends up in the hands of many parents and children.