A Book of Loves

PreS-Gr 1–This delightful read centers around cats, dogs, and children. What each one loves is slightly different, though all are happy to be loved themselves. Rylant’s evocative message illustrates, in a simple way, that cats love things like boxes and toys, and dogs love sticks and dirt. Children, however, love things like reading, playing catch, and eating cake. Rylant lists eight things each character loves, one per page, paired with acrylic paint illustrations that appear almost print-like; colors are bright but not overwhelming. Animals and people vary in skin and fur color and are set on a white background. Young children are sure to enjoy repeated encounters with this cheerful book and will most likely have it memorized after one or two read-throughs, as most pages bear only one word. Teachers might find this a valuable resource classroom lessons, like asking students to create their own illustrated books of things they love.