You are loved

Connecting a child with the natural world, Rim's simple but evocative work generates a grounding feeling of abiding love. In each spread, loopy cursive lettering links the book's refrain with an element from nature, while facing pages offer brief experiential elaborations: "You are loved by grass.../ as it softens your path." Throughout, a youth, portrayed with bunny ears, scribbly black hair, and skin that reflects the white of the page, relishes various encounters. In one watercolor, pencil, and digital scene, the figure climbs a tree washed in vibrant purple blooms ("You are loved by the trees...// as they lift you up high"). In another, cloud animals and shapes emerge from smudges of aqua sky while the child looks on ("You are loved by the clouds...// they bring you new friends"). As examples proceed, night falls, resulting in, via a human dimension, a comforting homey effect. Ages 4--8. (May)

How does nature love you? Let us count the ways. The comforting refrain at the top of each page turn reads, "You are loved"--by the sun, by the grass, by the wind, by the ocean, and by the stars--each providing a gift to the book's protagonist. The flowers bring a "bouquet of color," while the birds invite the child to dance. Through just a simple, single sentence per page, Rim conveys a child's joy at experiencing nature's bounty. The thickly outlined protagonist (a child wearing bunny ears? Or a childlike bunny?) has paper-white skin and wears a striped blue-and-black shirt. The little one smells bright and colorful wildflowers and splashes in the rain. One captivating image depicts the child staring up at clouds shaped like dragons and other creatures, while another shows the little one gazing at a huge moon, the night sky awash in blurred blacks, purples, and blues. Caregivers will be especially delighted to read the final two pages aloud: "But most of all, you are loved…by me." The concise text, repetitive format, and appealing illustrations make this a fitting book for growing families with young toddlers. Brimming with pure love and appreciation for the natural world and the children who will become its stewards. (Picture book. 2-5) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.