by Susan Verde, illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds; Abrams, 2019.

 

The latest in a series of picture books (I Am Yoga, I Am Peace, I Am Human) by the dynamic duo Susan Verde and Peter H. Reynolds encourages expressions of kindness and caring toward others and oneself.  

The bright cover beckons not only the very young, but older children and adults as well to look inside—literally and figuratively. This well-designed book with its creative placement of art and words, choice of colors, relaxed print font, economy of text, sweet depiction of children, and timely theme hits the mark. Here’s a deceptively simple book that offers a host of opportunities to inspire discussion and plant seeds for thought and action. Verde is adroit in word choice, and she skillfully employs first person narration to subtly steer the message. Reynolds’ trademark art completes this appealing package. 

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“Be a rainbow in someone else’s cloud.”—Maya Angelou

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Why this Book? Why will it matter to kids?

 In the dedication of I Am Love Verde states that “each of us is worthy of love in all its forms and expressions, and we are ALL capable of adding light to the world when we listen to our hearts and choose love.” What better way to embark on the school year than to endorse this philosophy as the credo of your classroom? Measure behavior, responses, outcomes, and growth in social-emotional learning by this standard of principles.  The values we express, the books we choose to read with children, and the time we invest in SEL-related activities directly and dramatically impact instruction. Books such as I Am Love influence how children see themselves and others, how they process information, and the ways in which they interact with peers and instruction. Books such as this one inform how children choose to conduct themselves in the classroom, schoolyard, neighborhood, community, and the greater world. Read this book aloud early in the school year, then again at meaningful junctures as the year—and your students—evolve. Spark and continue conversation: What are our benchmarks? Where have we succeeded? How can we grow?

  

 

 

© Peter H. Reynolds

Grade level: Pre-K—2+

Social-Emotional Learning Themes

Friendship, interpersonal relationships, kindness, compassion, loyalty, trustworthiness, dependability, responsibility, concern, helpfulness, perspective, fortitude, perseverance, self-reliance, self-care, respect, love, tenderness, comfort, gentleness, gratitude, effort, health, creativity, mindfulness, understanding, connection

Content Area Connections
Health, physical fitness, physical education

 

Using This Book in the Classroom

Hit the Ground Running

Ready Resources for Educators, Homeschoolers, and Parents

At the back of the book, Verde, a yoga and mindfulness instructor as well as an author, introduces a trio of “Heart-Opening Yoga Poses” illustrated by Reynolds. The set includes the fish pose, the cobra pose, and the cow pose in a chair. Simple and clear instructions are provided. Following this, Verde offers guidance for “Heart Meditation.” She states, “Now that these heart-opening poses have created physical space in the body, try this meditation to bring awareness and warmth into the emotional heart.” What’s not to LOVE about this book’s back matter?

Materials for use in conjunction with I Am Peace, one of the other books in the I Am series, can be found here.

Additional resources, including videos, songs, a yoga pose guide, and more can be found here.

 

 

 

 

© Peter H. Reynolds

 

Write Away!
Ideas to prompt writing

Explore the storm metaphor that threads through I Am Love. Ask children to identify elements of a weather storm that correspond to personal trials. In their journals, have students write about a “storm” they encountered in their lives and how someone helped—or could have helped—them through it. Alternatively, ask students to write about a time they helped another person through a personal storm. Encourage use of sensory detail.  

As a group, compile a list of the SEL-related words that appear in I Am Love. Discuss what they mean and how they are manifested. Ask children to choose one word to write a definition for and/or illustrate. Place on heart-shaped cards and display along the hallway outside the classroom or within the classroom. Use bright paper and/or eye-catching ink reflecting the style of the book.

Ask students to reflect in writing on a way in which they can act with tenderness, have compassion, offer comfort, give thanks, or practice self-care. Remind students to write in complete sentences and use details in explanations.

 

Poetry Break
Related poetry to recite before or following the reading of this book

Poetry breaks fit perfectly into brief moments in the day—from opening or closing the daily morning meeting to lining up for lunch; from zipping up backpacks and jackets to transitioning from one subject to the next. Reading a poem typically takes less than a minute, yet it can introduce or reinforce a concept, celebrate language, exemplify rhythm, enhance vocabulary, expand understanding, increase attention span, initiate reflection, or summon a giggle. And poetry soothes the spirit.

Poetry collections suggested for use with I Am Love and the other books in the I Am series:

• Let There Be Light: Poems and Prayers for Repairing the World compiled and illustrated by Janet Breskin Zalben
• Peaceful Pieces: Poems and Quilts About Peace by Anna Grossnickle Hines
• This Place I Know: Poems of Comfort selected by Georgia Heard, illustrated by Eighteen Renowned Picture Book Artists

And Then There’s This…
Enrichment activities, related books, online resources, craft projects, and ideas for further study

A selection of noteworthy recently published picture books (and one classic) focusing on compassion, connection, and love includes:

• The Day It Rained Hearts by Felicia Bond (Published in 2006, this is a reissue of Four Valentines in a Rainstorm published in 1983—a classic, and a favorite of mine.)
• Draw the Line (and other titles) by Kathryn Otoshi
• heartbeat by Evan Turk
• How Do Dinosaurs Stay Friends? written by Jane Yolen, illustrated by Mark Teague
• if I was the sunshine written by Julie Fogliano, illustrated by Loren Long
• Lend a Hand written by John Frank, illustrated by London Ladd
• Look and Be Grateful by Tomie dePaola
• Love by written by Matt De La Peña, illustrated by Loren Long
• my heart by Corinna Luyken
• Peace is an Offering written by Annette LeBox, illustrated by Stephanie Graegin
• People Share with People written by Lisa Wheeler, illustrated by Molly Idle
• The Perfect Gift by Rohan Henry
• The Scarecrow written by Beth Ferry, illustrated by The Fan Brothers
• What Is Given from the Heart by Patricia C. McKissack
• words and your heart by Kate Jane Neal

 

About the Author

   

 

Susan Verde spent much of her childhood clad in bell bottoms and rainbow suspenders, roller skating in the heart of Greenwich Village with a skate key around her neck and chalk in her pocket (for spontaneous hopscotch). Susan’s household was filled with books, music, and the smell of mocha chip pies, which her mother made for their neighborhood restaurant. Susan could often be found writing stories and poetry and even a song or two. She went on to earn degrees in Elementary Education and reading remediation and became an elementary school teacher.

Now Susan is a New York Times bestselling children’s author capturing and celebrating the experience of children. Her books include The Museum, The Water Princess, Hey, Wall: A Story of Art and Community, and Unstoppable Me. Her instant #1 New York Times bestseller I Am Human: A Book of Empathy is part of a series including I Am Yoga, I Am Peace, and the latest, I Am Love: A Book of Compassion, inspiring children, educators, yoga practitioners and mindful humans alike. In addition to writing Susan teaches yoga and mindfulness.

Q&A with Susan Verde

Susan graciously responded to a few questions about I Am Love and her creative process.

Judy Bradbury: How did you come to write this book? What seeded its creation?

Susan Verde: The idea for I Am Love came from a feeling of what we need in the world right now. This series of books is about how we want to show up in the world for ourselves and others and showing the reader that they have beautiful tools already at their disposal because they are part of who they are. Hence the “I Am…” I have been feeling like the world is struggling with love right now; seeing it, feeling it, sharing it, and we need to work on our compassion towards one another. Kids are feeling what the adults around them are feeling which is that things are a bit chaotic and divisive. If we come from a place of love I truly believe we can change that.

JB: Tell about one hurdle you experienced in the creation of I Am Love or provide a memorable (or humorous!) anecdote related to the making of this book.

SV: A hurdle I encountered was trying to make sure that the “love” I was referring to was not romantic but compassionate and about connection. I never want to be preachy but just to offer another way of showing up in the world and connecting to ourselves and others. That is the main hurdle with all of the I Am books. I wish there were something funny to share.  I can tell you that Peter Reynolds sent me a sneak peek of the illustrations (shhhhh) and I burst into tears in the middle of Starbucks because it was so beautiful! Actually, it was not the first time I have cried in my neighborhood Starbucks, so I think the “regulars” were unfazed.

JB: I Am Love highlights expressions of love, from comfort and compassion to connection with others. How did you choose which elements to present to young children?

SV: It was important to me that this book was not one of romantic love but one of the love we can show each other and ourselves on all levels in many different ways. Children need to be able to recognize love and compassion and find it in others and themselves when they are struggling.  All of these elements can help us be better humans. When we teach our children that they have the ability to choose love and compassion in the face of something troubling instead of anger, we create a climate of kindness and one in which kids feel safe to ask for help. Compassion, connection and comfort are all expressions of love.

JB: What did you learn from creating this book?

SV: Writing I Am Love helped me explore love and compassion on a deeper level. I had to really think about how to express what I wanted without getting too dark or too esoteric. With every new book I write I learn more and more about the power of words and the importance of each one, especially because picture books don’t allow for a lot of words so each one has to be necessary and capture something important to the story.

JB: What would surprise readers to learn about you or about the creation of this book?

SV: It may not be that surprising, but all of my books go through many stages and many drafts and I often use my children as my sounding boards because they are my most honest and sometimes harshest critics. Also, much of my inspiration comes from my experiences with kids and mental health. I have a child with OCD and all of my teens and their friends have some form of anxiety. Many of my students when I was a teacher also had their own challenges and so have I. It is important to me that we start early helping kids feel like enough and that they are innately kind and compassionate and capable. The world is a bit tough these days so I want people to have the tools to face what comes their way.

JB: What do you hope readers will take away from your book?

SV: I hope readers feel like they can look at the world through a lens of love and that they are not helpless but capable and amazing.

JB: What is one question you wish I had asked, and what is your answer?

SV: You have asked such thoughtful questions! Perhaps this:

 What would you be doing if you weren’t writing?

 Answer: And I would say that I would be teaching. My years as an elementary school teacher were some of the most wonderful. Continuing that journey and perhaps knowing more about mental health and how to support my students would be my other occupation of choice.

Thank you, Judy, for such a beautiful interview!

Peter H. Reynolds is the highly acclaimed author and illustrator of several books, including The Dot, Ish, Happy Dreamer, and Say Something!. He is also the founder of FableVision and FableVision Learning.

  

Opportunity Alert for Educators

If you live in the Western New York area, you will be excited to learn that Susan will be a panel participant at the 2019 Western New York Children’s Book Expo Educator Event on November 9th! Come listen to Susan and fourteen other critically-acclaimed children’s authors and illustrators present at this CTLE-credit event designed exclusively for educators! Details and registration information can be found here.

 

Book Giveaway!

Subscribers who leave a comment will be entered in a drawing to win a copy of I Am Love. A winner will be chosen randomly and announced when the next guide is posted.

And…the winner of a copy of Moon! by Stacy McAnulty is Mary Beth Scumaci. Congratulations!