Love Is My Favorite Color

November 15, 2023
Laden and Castrill�n team up again, this time conveying metaphors for abstractions such as friendship and gratitude through rhyming couplets and gentle art. "Love is my favorite color. I love every color I see." The word love is set off in a magenta semi-script, while the accompanying illustration depicts two children, apparently siblings, joyously jumping on a bed. On the next page, the older of the two tells us, "Peace is my favorite song. I sing it and I feel free." The accompanying image depicts the children high in a sturdy treehouse, smiling at the fanciful, swirling birds and branches surrounding them. "Friendship is my favorite dance," says the child on another page; "There are so many dances to try." An image shows the child cavorting and smiling with a group of other youngsters. Throughout, the book thoughtfully conveys big ideas using experiences that will be understood even by the youngest readers, though older, contemplative children will feel especially affirmed. While there's a retro feeling to the muted palette, the use of wavy-lined geometry, and the myriad pencil strokes that fill in various spaces, the sensitivity and sensibility are all 21st-century, particularly on spreads extolling bravery ("my favorite mountain") and equality ("my favorite door"). The soothing text and gentle art are a perfect segue into naptime or bedtime. Another treasure from a well-matched team. (Picture book. 4-8)

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April 12, 2024

PreS-Gr 1-In their latest collaboration, Laden and Castrill�n masterfully weave together rhyming couplets and soft, inviting illustrations to explore intangible concepts such as friendship and gratitude in a way that resonates with children. Heartfelt declarations including the word "love" are prominently displayed while children go through their day. They are pictured in cozy scenes that include a broad array of friends and family, a diverse community of love and support to scaffold the ideas of the book. The artwork, characterized by a muted color palette, fluid but still-geometric shapes, and intricate pencil strokes, evokes a lovely wistfulness that adult readers will appreciate.VERDICT For nap time collections or for roundups about love of many kinds, this book offers a surprising platform for meaningful discussions about life's most important values.-Ginnie Abbott

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