Picture book · Ages 3–9
Loved Like Lilly
A curious little lamb sets out to answer one big question, do you love me?, and discovers that love wears many faces, including her own.
Written for ages 3 to 9, with conversation pages at the back that turn story time into something you actually talk about.
Six five-star reviews from parents and teachers
The story
One question, six kinds of love.
Lilly wanders through a sunlit meadow, wondering if she is truly loved, so she asks. Her dad answers with proud, gentle words. Her friend Tilly answers by playing the day away. Her brother Tom answers with a basket of her favourite clover. Max the sheepdog answers by remembering the time he kept her safe. Her mama answers with a wordless, humming hug.
In a quiet barn at dusk, Lilly meets her own reflection and learns about the love she can carry for herself. A small story with a steadying idea: love shows up in many forms, and it lives inside us too.
See inside
See inside Loved Like Lilly
Interior spreads to be added.
Send three to five photographs or scans of real pages from the book and they will appear here at full width. No pages have been generated or imagined in the meantime.
What your child discovers
A story that grows with your child.
Love, in plain sight
Lilly helps children notice the love already around them, shown in words, time, gifts, help and touch.
Belonging
Every character in the meadow answers Lilly differently. Nobody is left out of the story.
Self-worth
Her mirror moment gives little ones a first, gentle language for liking who they are.
Appreciation
Noticing what someone did for you is a skill. The book practises it without ever calling it that.
How love is expressed
Six characters, six ways of showing love. Children start spotting which one sounds most like them.
Reflection
The journal pages give a child somewhere to put the thought after the reading stops.
One story. Three ways to experience it.
Read
Read together. Discover the many ways love shows up, one character at a time.
Listen
Listen together. Eleven songs carry Lilly's message into the car, the kitchen, the morning and bedtime.
Connect
Connect together. Use the 39 conversation starters and the Mirror Game to make the story personal.
Inside the back of the book
The part that turns reading into talking.
Most picture books end at the last page. This one keeps going, with material designed for the grown-up holding it.
Psychological background
A short, plain explanation of why the story is built the way it is, written for the adult reading it aloud.
Love languages
The six characters map to different ways of showing love. The notes help you spot which one your child reaches for.
39 conversation starters
Real questions to ask after the story. No script, no right answers, no pressure to get it perfect.
Parent tips
Practical ways to nurture confidence, kindness and appreciation in the ordinary run of a week.
The Mirror Game
The activity that grew out of Lilly's own moment at the barn, for a child learning to like their reflection. Track 9 on the soundtrack, “Mirror mirror I See Me,” follows the same idea.
Journal pages
Space for a child to draw or write what they thought, so the conversation leaves something behind.
What readers say
From families and teachers.
“Loved Like Lilly is not only visually stunning, but full of heart. It gently shows children that love is all around them, and that we all express it in different ways.”
— Maria D.
“Part storybook, part guide for parents and guardians. A win-win. The tips and activities at the end help love come naturally.”
— Scott S.
“More than a cute story — it's a coaching book for parents who want to affirm their children and teach healthy ways to show love.”
— JP
“My children and I absolutely adore this book. A great way to teach children and adults about the different love languages. A must have!”
— Kate M.
“A beautiful, heartfelt story. The graphics are wonderful, and there are great tips for parents on reassuring love and confidence.”
— Kathy M.
“My daughter is four years old and loved it. Simple, short, engaging — and the illustrations are beautiful and vibrant.”
— Yassiris
The details
Loved Like Lilly
- Full title: Loved Like Lilly: A Baa-ckyard Tale of Love and Being Loved
- Authors: Marcel Szenessy and Yvette Farkas
- Ages: 3–9
- Length: 58 pages, about a ten-minute read aloud
- Includes: Psychological background, love languages, 39 conversation starters, parent tips, the Mirror Game and journal pages
- Publisher: Booyah Books
- ISBN-13: 978-1-998333-29-5
- Published: May 2025
Pairs beautifully with
The soundtrack.
Loved Like Lilly — The Soundtrack
Eleven original songs that carry the book's spirit into the car, the kitchen, and the quiet before sleep. Free to stream on Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube and Amazon Music.
Listen to Booyah BeatsQuestions
Things parents ask.
Is Loved Like Lilly religious?
No. Loved Like Lilly is a secular story about love, belonging and self-worth. It works in any home, classroom or library.
What age works best?
The book is written for ages 3 to 9. Younger children follow the story and the pictures. Older children engage with the conversation questions at the back, and grown-ups tend to get something out of those too.
Is it suitable for classrooms and libraries?
Yes. It reads aloud well to a group, and the conversation pages give a teacher or librarian somewhere to go once the story ends.
Can grandparents use it too?
Yes. Nothing in the book assumes a parent is reading it. Any adult a child trusts can use the questions the same way.
How long does it take to read?
The story runs about ten minutes. The conversation pages and journal prompts take as long or as little as you want them to.
Is the soundtrack included with the book, or separate?
The soundtrack is a separate album. It is free to stream on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Music and Amazon Music, and it follows the story closely enough that many families play it right after reading.
Start with one beautiful moment.
Read it tonight. Ask one question afterwards. That is the whole idea.
Not ready to buy?
Start with the free Booyah Family Starter Pack.
- Seven short connection activities for children and the people who love them
- A set of Cuties coloring activities that pair color, a fact, an affirmation and a question
- Easy to print, easy to use tonight
One small Booyah Moment in your inbox: a conversation, song, activity or idea you can use with your child in a few minutes. Unsubscribe anytime.