I do not remember reading mother and daughter Amy Krouse Rosenthal and Paris Rosenthal’s collaboration Dear Girl. But if I had, it obviously did not make much of an impression. Therefore, I was unsure what to exactly expect from daughter and father collaborators, Paris and Jason Rosenthal’s Dear Boy. Though, I had my suspicions.
And basically, what came out of my reading of Dear Boy was exactly what I was expecting: a sentimental, modern, touchy-feely and obvious book. It is a “make yourself a kinder, gentler, boy” by telling him he is great, good, he is strong, can be sad or happy and do whatever he wants. He is one of a kind and special. The very modern text and attitude come across making this book seem overly quaint and cliched. Perhaps had Dear Boy and Dear Girl been combined as Dear Child, I would have enjoyed it more. With that said, there is nothing wrong with this book, many people are reading and enjoying it, but to me it is overly forced, pushy and commercialized.
The illustrations are nice. But that is meant in the plainest possible implication. They are simplistic illustrations from Holly Hatam. Yet, the coloring is pleasant. They are happy and perfect for the story. They are spunky and the saving grace to the overall package. The text might not do it for me but enjoyed the artwork of Hatam. There is one slight bump as the boy in the story is “color free” (outside of clothing) therefore making his shocking white body a bit startling at first.