FICTION

Love Is for Roaring

by Mike Kerr (text) & illus. by Renata Liwska
Bloomsbury. Jan. 2022. 32p. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9781681191249.
COPY ISBN
K-Gr 2–Lion is grumpy when a class assignment instructs everyone to make a list: “Show your love.” Lion is fearsome and fierce and doesn’t like lovey-dovey stuff. Mouse senses that Lion is upset and shares images of things Lion does enjoy—sweet treats and running and roaring. Through this thoughtful friend, Lion realizes that he often shows love, and he embraces this aspect of himself. The book has great word choices, such as fearsome and fierce, but more importantly it beautifully captures friendship and the importance of conveying love. The story could be used to teach SEL and help children better articulate and understand their emotions. The illustrations in muted, smudgy pastels are calming and relatable.
VERDICT A thoughtful, reasonable approach to the broad definitions of love and how to show it, this book meets children where they are and coaxes understanding.
Reviewed by Tracey Hodges, Univ. of Alabama, Northport, AL , Nov 01, 2021

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