by Alexi Lubomirski (Author) Carlos Aponte (Illustrator)
A renowned photographer and a Pura Belpré Honor-winning illustrator join forces for a playful and stylish picture book that's destined to make the world a better place, one word at a time.
Perfectly pitched to the youngest child, Alexi Lubomirski's whimsical text is a gentle reminder that words have power--the power to hurt or to heal, to make someone feel small or feel tall. Carlos Aponte's buoyant illustrations, in dazzling primary colors and bold black line, pair with a dynamic text design to create a visual symphony. An eye-catching appeal to our better natures, this inspired meditation on the purpose and power of words encourages children to choose them well--and use them wisely--to spread kindness, joy, and love.
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K-Gr 2--Text and illustration are inseparable in this book that encourages readers to think about the power of words--the ones they think to themselves, and the ones they say out loud. Lubomirski urges the audience to consider the impact of two four-letter words, love and hate, on plants as well as people, and to "try an experiment, where you change what you say/ and see if your life gets better in a wonderful way." Unfortunately, the rhyme scheme is clunky in several places, making it frustrating to read out loud. The limited color palette--primary colors plus black and white--is bold and effective, and there are plenty of interesting visuals woven throughout, such as a soccer ball for the "o" in "grow" and a whale tail for the "t" in "hate." VERDICT Words do indeed have power, but uneven execution mars the message here; consider for SEL collections.--Jenny Arch
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