Under the Love Umbrella

PreS-Gr 2–When life gets hard or scary, there is always room under the love umbrella to feel safe and adored. As the four protagonists of this soothing picture book face common childhood tribulations—deepest dark, friends not sharing, broken toys, wet pants, rushing parents—they are reminded that any problem faced “disappears in a big old flurry/Under the love umbrella.” The lilting rhyming text, with four or fewer lines per page, makes this a solid choice for reading aloud to a group. The neon color palette, saturated in oranges, yellows, pinks, and purples, creates a sense of vibrancy and energy. The colors form an interesting contrast with the artistic style, with no dark outlines and minimal or blurred details creating a soft and gentle feel. The combination of text and illustrations create an overall work that is soothing, reminding readers that love extends across distances and has the power to quiet all worries. The four protagonists are ethnically diverse, and crowd scenes show a rich array of background characters. The final note encourages children to consider the power of their own love as they are asked, “Who’s under your Love Umbrella?”