HEARTFELT

A youngster spreads love throughout the community.

The tan-skinned narrator makes tiny paper hearts. “The hearts don’t say ‘I love you,’” explains the protagonist, “but, kind of, they do—when you share them.” The child gives the hearts to friends, family, and neighbors while finding other ways to show love: drawing a picture of a cat for a pal, delivering cookies to a neighbor, and reading a story to a younger sibling. With the paper hearts now all gone, the child comes to an important realization: “I find love everywhere, being shared in a hundred different ways from hearts of all shapes and sizes.” Cotterill’s illustrations—hand-built sets that were then photographed—bring the narrative to life, giving it a three-dimensional, textured feel. The child’s handful of paper hearts pop off the page, while the bag of cookies looks real enough to hold. Movement and depth are so effectively conveyed that some images feel like video stills. This moving story will empower children to find ways to positively influence their own communities. The acts of service are practical and realistic, making this a perfect tale to share with preschoolers and early elementary school students. In her author’s note, Vickers discusses how she drew inspiration from an activity she implemented years ago at children’s classes at her church. People depicted vary in terms of skin tone and ability.

A kid-friendly demonstration of how we can all make the world a more loving place.