Love

Today’s Perfect Picture Book Friday selection is from one of my favorite authors, Newbery Medal winner, Matt de La Peña. And what better way to celebrate Valentine’s Day than a celebration of love in its many forms.

Title: LOVE

Written by: Matt de La Peña

Illustrated by: Loren Long

G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 2018, fiction

For Ages: 4 and up

Themes/Topics: love, family, emotions, connection

First spread:

In the beginning there is light

and two wide-eyed figures standing

near the foot of your bed,

and the sound of their voices is love.

Summary (from the publisher): “In this heartfelt celebration of love, Newbery Medal-winning author Matt de la Peña and bestselling illustrator Loren Long depict the many ways we experience this universal bond, which carries us from the day we are born throughout the years of our childhood and beyond. With a lyrical text that’s soothing and inspiring, this tender tale is a needed comfort and a new classic that will resonate with readers of every age.”

Why I LOVE This Book: The lyrical language carries us beautifully from one instance of “love” to the next. We find love in expected and unexpected places. The book doesn’t shy away from the fact that life can be challenging and painful at times. Love helps, but it can’t fix everything.

A “quiet old lady” tells the “you” of the story, “Stars shine long after they’ve flamed out…and the shine they shine with is love.” In the next spread we read, “But it’s not only stars that flame out, you discover. It’s summers, too. And friendships. And people.” The illustration depicts a child and dog cowering under a piano as the child’s parents argue. This spread has been the topic of some hot debate in the kidlit community. I like what Loren Long has said about this spread: “And what I’m illustrating here is a domestic dispute. And if you’re reading this book with a child from a wonderfully stable home, great. But that’s a way of sharing empathy with that experience. And if you are that child under the piano, you exist in this book.” (https://www.npr.org/2018/01/15/578172727/new-picture-book-illustrates-how-love-is-always-around)

The book also calls out instances of love that might be “overlooked,” like a “love that wakes at dawn and rides to work on the bus.” I love that a child might read this book and realize that something she sees a parent do every day, something she takes for granted, might in fact be a manifestation of love.

(For a collection of picture book reviews, along with resources, please visit Susanna Leonard Hill’s site: http://susannahill.com/for-teachers-and-parents/perfect-picture-books/.)

19 thoughts on “Perfect Picture Book Friday: LOVE”

  1. This sounds amazing. I agree with Long’s comment that if you are that child under the piano, then you exist. I used to worry about that sometimes when I was teaching—all the happy family books we read — which is lovely, but sadly not a reality for all kids.

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  8. This is a great review. Thanks for addressing the controversy, especially of the piano spread. I think since there is no outward physical abuse, just an argument & likely stomping out of the father, that it does allow for a child to see him/herself in a book. A value that can’t be underestimated. Definitely an interesting book.

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  10. This is a wonderful book, Gabi. I was concerned, at first, that it might not live up to its pre-release hype, BUT especially because of the thought-provoking scenes you mention, it exceeded my expectations. Thanks for a great review.

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