Love Is Here

Vibrant watercolor and gouache scenes make up author-illustrator Malbrough's poetic paean, which features a brown-skinned child, dark curls escaping the hood of a yellow coat, experiencing the majesty of the natural world. Love infuses everything, the child discovers--from a drenching rainstorm to a flower emerging out of parched soil and beyond, to the mysteries of the universe. "Can love be more amazing than this?" gushes the oft-abstract text, accompanying an effervescent ocean scene. Later, the child follows a string of glowing red butterflies to the moon, discovering an inky galaxy: "And even beneath the blinking/ stars, love gazes back.// Do you see it?" When the protagonist comes face-to-face with a lighter-skinned child, it's a chance to see how wonder can be shared--a fitting conclusion to this ebullient book. Ages 4-8. (Dec.)

Copyright 2021 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

Gr 1-3—Where is love? All around, of course! Told through lyrical text, readers will discover that love is everywhere, even when it cannot be seen. Malbrough takes readers on a journey that begins with a raindrop and ends in our solar system. The rhythm of the text matches the movements portrayed in the illustrations that add to the adventurous undertone of the book. While the journey through the pictures is enjoyable, the book itself lacks overall cohesiveness. The mixture between real life and imagination ends with the introduction of a new character in a way that seems abrupt. The main character is depicted as Black and the secondary character appears to be of Asian descent. VERDICT An optional purchase for libraries, where books that take on the big questions are in short supply.—Katherine Forsman

Copyright 2022 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Praise for Love is Here

*Readers are gifted with spectacular double-page spreads of bold watercolor and gouache illustrations that capture the mystery, grandeur, and immensity of love. Many picture books have been written about the subject matter, but this one elegantly treads familiar grounds. A highly recommended title for any library shelf. A lovely look at love. —Kirkus review (STARRED REVIEW)

Vibrant watercolor and gouache scenes make up author-illustrator Malbrough's poetic paean . . . a chance to see how wonder can be shared—a fitting conclusion to this ebullient book. —Publishers Weekly