FICTION

I Drew a Heart

by Gillian Sze (text) & illus. by Naoko Stoop
Little, Brown. Dec. 2023. 32p. Tr $18.99. ISBN 9780316349574.
COPY ISBN
PreS-Gr 1–A young Asian boy goes through his day drawing hearts. One is on the steamy bathroom mirror. More hearts appear on paper, drawn with pencils, paint, and crayons. One is made of shells and stones at the beach. They are all unique. For each heart, a member of the boy’s family comments lovingly on how they interpret it, and each time the boy thinks to himself “a heart that is like mine.” By the end of the day, he has drawn hearts for all of the meaningful individuals in his life, including people and pets. Soft colors and attention to details develop a loving extended family surrounded by this boy’s heart-shaped view of his world. The story ends with paper lanterns glowing upward in the night sky at the beach.
VERDICT A lyrical but realistic story of a boy’s gentle day with his family. Themes of family traditions, culture, and acceptance develop as gently as the hearts in a strong story-hour choice for quiet times and reflection.
Reviewed by Elisabeth LeBris , Dec 15, 2023

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