The Boy Who Loved Everyone

Toddler-PreS--Enthusiastic about the first day of preschool, Dimitri, a boy with dark brown hair and tan skin, snuggles up with new classmate Liam at story time and tells him he loves him. The boy doesn't respond. Dimitri continues to tell others that he loves them, including the lunch lady, his teacher, the class guinea pig, the ants at recess, and a scruffy man in the park on the way home from school. He is discouraged when no one says "I love you" in return. Dimitri's mom, who has darker brown skin than Dimitri, describes how everyone has their own way of expressing love and "even if they don't say it back or show it, they feel it." As the two walk to school the next morning, Dimitri's mom draws attention to the unique ways that love is expressed through sharing food, warm embraces, and friendly waves each day. The story illustrates diversity in race and ethnicity, especially among Dimitri's classmates. Dimitri's teacher has darker brown skin than Dimitri, and long braided gray hair, and the teacher's classroom aide wears a head covering. Leaves fallen upon the ground, characters bundled in chunky scarves and sweaters, and a generous infusion of yellows and reds into each mixed-media illustration combine for a tender story of a child full of love learning the many ways it can be expressed. VERDICT This snug lesson complements the many stories of shy children coping with their emotions in new environments. A loving tale.--Emily Brush, Novi P.L., MI

Dimitri, who has dark hair and light tan skin, spends his first day at a new preschool telling everyone and everything "I love you." He professes devotion to classmates, a large tree, Berthe the lunch lady--even "to the guinea pig and to the paintbrushes, who didn't seem to mind." But when no one returns his explicit declarations, Dimitri informs his mother, who has dark skin and short black natural hair, that he doesn't want to return to school the next morning. Mom imparts a lesson: "When you tell people you love them," she says, "even if they don't say it back or show it, they feel it. That's just the way love is." Pointing out how an elderly man shows love by feeding stray cats, Mom encourages Dimitri to preserve his tenderness--advice that serves him well as he embarks on another day at school. Shearring's mixed-media illustrations present simple yet vibrantly patterned spreads, with people of various skin tones and hair textures populating Dimitri's world. A gentle, resonant narrative for children navigating new social-emotional spaces. Ages 3-7. (Jan.)