Love Is My Favorite Color

by Nina Laden, Melissa Castrillon (Illustrator)

Overview

A sparkling and tender picture book about all the things that are bright and loving in the world and fill our lives with joy.

From caring to hoping to peace to sharing, there are many ways to find joy in the everyday. Celebrate the things that make life wonderful and each day special. With stunning artwork, readers of all ages will find moments to treasure.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781665913096
Publisher:	Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books
Publication date:	01/02/2024
Pages:	40
Sales rank:	484,570
Product dimensions:	7.80(w) x 10.40(h) x 0.40(d)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Nina Laden is the author-illustrator of many books for kids, including the Peek-a series; Who Loves You, Baby?; The Night I Followed the Dog; Yellow Kayak; Dear Little One; and Love Is My Favorite Color. She lives with her husband on Lummi Island, Washington. Visit her online at NinaLaden.com.

Melissa Castrillon studied at the Cambridge School of Art where she earned a first class honors degree in illustration and a master’s degree in children’s book illustration. She is the illustrator of If I Had a Little Dream by Nina Laden. She is also the author-illustrator of The Balcony, which received the Society of Illustrators Gold Medal. Her book Dear Little One, by Nina Laden, was a School Library Journal best picture book of the year. Her books have been published all over the world. She lives in Cambridge, England, with her husband.

Editorial Reviews

04/12/2024

PreS-Gr 1—In their latest collaboration, Laden and Castrillón masterfully weave together rhyming couplets and soft, inviting illustrations to explore intangible concepts such as friendship and gratitude in a way that resonates with children. Heartfelt declarations including the word "love" are prominently displayed while children go through their day. They are pictured in cozy scenes that include a broad array of friends and family, a diverse community of love and support to scaffold the ideas of the book. The artwork, characterized by a muted color palette, fluid but still-geometric shapes, and intricate pencil strokes, evokes a lovely wistfulness that adult readers will appreciate.VERDICT For nap time collections or for roundups about love of many kinds, this book offers a surprising platform for meaningful discussions about life's most important values.—Ginnie Abbott

School Library Journal

2023-10-21
Laden and Castrillón team up again, this time conveying metaphors for abstractions such as friendship and gratitude through rhyming couplets and gentle art.

“Love is my favorite color. I love every color I see.” The word love is set off in a magenta semi-script, while the accompanying illustration depicts two children, apparently siblings, joyously jumping on a bed. On the next page, the older of the two tells us, “Peace is my favorite song. I sing it and I feel free.” The accompanying image depicts the children high in a sturdy treehouse, smiling at the fanciful, swirling birds and branches surrounding them. “Friendship is my favorite dance,” says the child on another page; “There are so many dances to try.” An image shows the child cavorting and smiling with a group of other youngsters. Throughout, the book thoughtfully conveys big ideas using experiences that will be understood even by the youngest readers, though older, contemplative children will feel especially affirmed. While there’s a retro feeling to the muted palette, the use of wavy-lined geometry, and the myriad pencil strokes that fill in various spaces, the sensitivity and sensibility are all 21st-century, particularly on spreads extolling bravery (“my favorite mountain”) and equality (“my favorite door”). The soothing text and gentle art are a perfect segue into naptime or bedtime.

Another treasure from a well-matched team. (Picture book. 4-8)

Kirkus Reviews