I Am Loved

October 15, 2017
In this collection, poet Giovanni seeks to remind black children especially that they are loved. Giovanni carries the weight of the love that has sustained generations and united communities to her poems with amazing, succinct elegance. Standouts include "I Am a Mirror," opposite which Bryan centers a real inset mirror against a colorful background of vibrant shapes amid natural landscapes. "I reflect the strengths / Of my people / And for that alone / I am loved," concludes Giovanni's ode to black ancestry and intergenerational resilience. "No Heaven" takes another heartwarming approach sure to incite genuine embraces among readers. "How can there be / No Heaven / When tears comfort / When dreams caress / When you smile / at me." Recalling her earlier collection Hip Hop Speaks to Children (2008, illustrated by Kristen Balouch), Giovanni ends with the playful and reflective "Do the Rosa Parks," a rhythmic and moving song about the power of sitting down to stand up. Outkast vibes run through it, though some readers may wish for an instructional cue. Throughout, Bryan's bright tempera and watercolor paintings offer readers harmonious forms and flowing lines, smiling black children and adults arranged as if in tropically colored stained-glass windows. The two masters together deliver another powerful addition to their separate, award-winning catalogs. A small but mighty collection sure to remind readers that love, again, can prevail over all if given the chance. (Picture book/poetry. 4-9)

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November 6, 2017
In 11 poems, a mix of new and previously published work, Giovanni celebrates open-ended and affirming love. Some invoke love directly (“I wrote a poem/ for you because/ you are/ my little boy,” begins the opening poem, “Because”), others obliquely: in “Quilts,” an old tablecloth seeks new life: “When I am frayed and stained and drizzled at the end/ Please someone cut a square and put me in a quilt/ That I might keep some child warm.” Newbery Honor–winner Bryan paints African-American men, women, and children in thick, swirling compositions suggestive of stained glass; he makes room for an embedded mirror to accompany a poem that addresses readers directly: “I reflect the strengths/ Of my people/ And for that alone/ I am loved.” A joyful and broad reflection of love’s many faces. Ages 4–8.

January 1, 2018

PreS-Gr 4-This dynamic collection of verse thrums with musical language, exploring the interconnectedness between individuals and generations, humanity and nature. Pulsing through each brief poem is a leitmotif of love, and Bryan's warm illustrations underscore the book's comforting refrain. While a few poems are bittersweet, dealing with aging and loss, serene and contented elements emerge amid the wistfulness. Non-religious spirituality pervades Giovanni's language with a reverence for nature, and for life itself, in simple words that will resonate with young and old. "No Heaven" questions "How can there be/No heaven/When rain falls/gently on the grass/When sunshine scampers/across my toes." "Kidnap Poem" is especially metaphor-rich and overall lush, and the final poem, "Do the Rosa Parks" is perfect for reading to groups of young children, as it invites recitation and movement. Bryan's bold illustrations reflect the energy of the verses, splashing rainbows of rich color across every page. The paintings highlight a particularly poignant line or illuminate wording that some young readers might find complex, thereby aiding their meaning-making process. Children will especially enjoy the mirror included beside the poem "I Am a Mirror," a luminous verse that speaks of resilience. VERDICT A recommended addition to all picture book poetry collections, one that encourages children to embrace their personal histories and to love and be loved. A vibrant burst of positivity for readers of any age.-Melissa Williams, Berwick Academy, ME

Copyright 2018 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

November 1, 2017
Grades 1-4 Iconic, award-winning American poet Giovanni has long crafted verses that have been considered radical, sensual, and even revolutionary in their depiction of the power of love. This picture-book poetry collection for children contains a selection of her work that celebrates all manner of love, and it is beautifully illustrated by the equally renowned Bryan. The book begins with an address to children, stating simply and elegantly that their existence is reason enough for poetry and songs to be written: as time goes on / I am you / and you are me / and that's how life / goes on. In a world that often seems not to value brown-skinned children, this message is acutely timely and further reflected in Bryan's artwork. Other poems describe friendships between peers, the loss of loved ones, possessive love, and ancestral love across time. They vary in tone from gentle ( Leaves, Wild Flowers ) to jaunty ( Three/Quarters Time, Paula the Cat ). Bryan's stylized tempera paint and watercolor illustrations are full of whimsy and smiling faces, providing the perfect complement to Giovanni's work.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2017, American Library Association.)