FICTION

Lovely

by Jess HONG
illus. by Jess Hong. 32p. Creston. Oct. 2017. Tr $16.99. ISBN 9781939547378.
COPY ISBN
PreS-Gr 2—What is lovely? That is the question that starts off Hong's adorable picture book. Each page offers an assortment of unique individuals, people of different sizes and shapes with varying hair colors, ages, and skin tones. The final page, which includes a woman scientist, a ballerina with purple hair, a man with a goatee and mustache in a dress and heels, small children, a chef with large thighs, a man with a dog, and many others says it precisely: "We are all…Lovely." With minimal text, the digital illustrations carry this book with their bright and bold representation of a diverse set of individuals. Hong subtly gives representation to vitiligo and freckles in an illustration of arms and hands, and includes the prosthetic leg of a soccer player side by side with a hairy leg in heels.
VERDICT This clever book would work perfectly paired with Todd Parr's Be Who You Are in a storytime about inclusion and acceptance. While not a must purchase this book is certainly a lovely addition to larger collections.
Reviewed by Shana Morales, Windsor Public Library, CT , Dec 01, 2017

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