Love

From the moment prose and art appear in the opening spread, de la Peña and Long usher readers into a patient, pensive meditation on love.

Love is the sound of the first voices we ever hear; it is the color of the night sky over a happy home; it is the echo of summer laughter. Love is under the stars during a fire alarm, behind a family’s worry over a troubled world, and in the reassuring embrace after a bad dream. Love is at the core of family and at the back of sorrow and in the very bones of this book. If it’s possible to shout quietly, then de la Peña has mastered the technique. His lyrical prose roars with gentle (and deceptive) simplicity to uncover the everyday and unexpected places where love and sometimes pain reside, show more giving rise to resilience. Not to be outmatched, Long’s illustrations roar right back, crafting mirrors within a gorgeous spectrum of brown skin and glimpses of different lives, shaping reflections within visual perspectives that immerse readers in emotive power. And in a book brimful with potent images, readers are sure to pause at the stunning double-page spread filled with the placid face of a young person of color along with this assertion: “And the face staring back in the bathroom mirror—this, too, is love.”

Timely, timeless, and utterly necessary. (Picture book. 4-8)

-Kirkus Review show less

Matt de la Peña, winner of the Newbery medal for his previous picture-book, Last Stop on Market Street, deliver a poetic exploration of love in this newest title, which pairs his text with lovely artwork from illustrator Loren Long. From the day one is born, experiencing love through "two wide-eyed figures standing near the foot of your bed, and the sound of their voices is love," this all-important emotional bond is ever-present in our lives, reaching us through actions large and small...

I went into Love with high expectations, given Matt de la Peña's excellent work in Last Stop on Market Street, which, although not deserving of the Newbery in my estimation, was nevertheless an excellent picture-book. Overall, I did appreciate this show more one, both for its message, and for the poetic delivery of that message. I also enjoyed the beautiful artwork, which was done in collaged prints, acrylic paint and pencil, and which depicts a diverse range of people. All that said, I just wasn't quite as moved by this one as I'd expected to be. Reactions vary, of course, so if you're looking for picture-books about love - the many ways it manifests itself in our lives, and the important role it plays - this might be one to pick up. show less

This is the kind of book that leaves the peaceful silence in a room when finished. A book about the places you find love, in your family, in music, in nature, and all your surroundings. But there will be moments and days where it seems like no one is expressing love and things happen around you that are the complete opposite than what you know is love. This book shows children with arguing parents, with losing loved ones, and with national crisis; the real ways in which love is drowned out in everyones life. And the book gives hope that in the simplest things our parents and siblings still show love even in difficult times. It says that the face that stares back at you in the mirror is love, and when a family member or friend wishes you show more luck you leave with love too. This book is indescribable in its powerful message and illustrations that complement them so well. This book should be read to any and every child. show less

Love
Matt de la Pena (2018)
This book was absolutely wonderful. At first just looking at the book we see the word love and can relate to love that we feel in our lives. These are usually things that make us feel good and mushy inside. But going through the book we see that the author tells us that we also find love through pain. And through the pain we go through lessons that teach us how to love better. This was one of the many things that made me love this book. I also love how the illustrator added little things into the pictures in the book that children might not recognize as being a cause of pain. In one example in particular there is a page where two parents are fighting and the boy is clinging to the dog for love. But on this page show more we also see an empty whiskey class. This shows so much more than a fight between two people. It symbolizes something that some children might go through in their lives and they might be able to relate to. I also loved that de la Pena said that we can love doing things that just make us happy. For some dancing on the hood of a trailer would be quite depressing to us as many people do not want to see themselves living in trailers. But this is all this little girl has and she finds love in it. This shows children that you do not need to be shown love by given expensive presents or to be boyfriend or girlfriends with anyone rather than all they need to do is do the things that make them happy and learn from the misfortunes that happen to us. show less

I think the artwork in this book is beautiful. I also think the text is too. But, not for children. It can be very confusing for kids to understand or to explain how the stars shine is love. Or how the family not letting you know what is happening on the TV is love if it leaves you wondering at night. I also feel like this book has to do with love being about family. Some children might not have that type of love at home. Some children might not be safe or come from a loving family. I would be cautious if I were to read this book to children. I think it will be a good read to mature readers or even young adults. At the second to last page, De La Pena talks about "love is when you go on your own, your loved ones will stand there holding show more you tight." This can be more understanding to students graduating high school or college when they go on their own. show less

Am I too old and jaded to love this? Some of the illustrations are gorgeous. Some strings of the text are max poetic. But as a whole, I don't feel compelled to find a child to share it with. I hope that you who are parents and other caregivers do have wonderful conversations with your children about your favorite pages in this book.

I love this story of Love. I have read this book many times to my students. The message of this book is that we can find love in many different scenarios and from many different people in our lives. This story is written in a poetry form where the overall comprehension is how a child experiences love throughout all of life's ups and downs. The illustrations are absolutely amazing with all the vibrant colors. The illustrator does a phenomenal job of portraying the message of love. The cover of this book alone is what drew me in from the first time I saw it. This story teaches children that they are not alone and if we all look through the lens of love we will be ok.