What are words, really?

A reflection on the power of words. Flying in the face of the old adage "sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never hurt me," the text acknowledges the harm that hateful, cruel words can cause. It also affirms the power of kind and loving words to heal and uplift. These messages aren't delivered in a story but in clear, rhymed verses. Accompanying illustrations are boldly colored with sketchy depictions of people interacting with each other in positive and negative scenarios, using a style that is somewhat reminiscent of Ed Emberley's or Oliver Jeffers' picture-book illustrations. While the book focuses on the power of language, art paradoxically does much of the heavy lifting when it comes to communicating the emotions of a scene. In what some may regard as a narrative misstep, a key spread highlights the potential for words to help or harm a plant's growth, perhaps distracting from the centrality of humans to this book's aims. Nevertheless, this will be an eminently useful title for sparking conversations with children about how positive self-talk can transform one's perspective and how kind words can empower others. It will also invite reflections on the need for sensitivity and kindness in communicating with others. Characters vary in skin tone (most are depicted in intense blues, reds, or yellows, like the rest of the art) and ability. (This book was reviewed digitally.) Words and pictures really worth sharing. (Picture book. 4-8) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.