WHEN LOVE IS MORE THAN WORDS

There’s more than one way to say “I love you.”

An unnamed Asian-presenting child notes, “Some people say they love you with hugs, kisses, and three special words…But in my family, we do something different.” Actions big and small and contextual clues send the same message. Great-grandma A-tzo always gives her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren the most luscious loquats from her garden. A patch of blooming blue irises planted by the child’s now-deceased grandpa Keyo A-gong is a reminder of his presence. Mama saves the young narrator the tastiest part of the fish—“even if it means she gets the tail.” Observing siblings, aunties, uncles, and more caring for one another, the child realizes that “I have a village of people around me.” It’s through “their laughter / their sacrifices / and their presence” that the child hears “I love you.” Chung’s elegant text is rife with concrete details, while Kuo deftly uses bold colors, black lines, and textures to create warmly energetic scenes of family gatherings and tables heaped with food. With joy and tenderness, Chung and Kuo convey an important truth; young people whose families express love in different ways will feel seen, heard, and embraced. Phrases in Taiwanese and Japanese appear throughout.

Readers will feel the love—in every well-chosen word and each exquisite image.