Ashley Bryan has hand-selected a dozen poems by Nikki Giovanni that cover the theme, “I Am Loved” then illustrated with their signature style artwork.
Other than saying how beautiful the poems are or saying how amazing Giovanni’s words are, there is little to say about the lyricalness of them. They are classic Giovanni. They portray depth, feeling and show how much Giovanni cares about the theme and the subject.
Other than saying how beautiful the illustrations are or saying how amazing Bryan’s work is, there is little to say about their lyricalness. They are classic Bryan. They are vivid and deep and powerful. They show how much Bryan cares about the theme and subject.
I Am Loved is one of those books that fit almost any occasion. You can have it in your personal, classroom or school library. If you are studying feelings, black authors and illustrators or if you are looking for good poems, this is a perfect book.
At the end, one page is mirrored, so children reading the book can see exactly who is loved—themselves! But as it is that “fake mirror” it does distort a bit so the adult will get a fun “fun-house” look at themselves. Young children will find this as their favorite page!
Pair this with You Are Loved: Welcome Wishes for New Babies by Nancy Tillman (previously reviewed here) as a new baby gift. Or just as a first birthday gift. Or a gift for the child adopted. Possible even a very good book for a graduate of any age.
