I Am Love: A Book of Compassion

I Am...

by Susan Verde, Peter H. Reynolds (Illustrator)

Companion to I Am Human and I Am Peace
“Practical and empowering for young ones learning how to emotionally attend to themselves and others.” — Kirkus Reviews

Celebrate kindness, compassion, self-care, and love in all its forms in this beautifully illustrated book!

Love means showing kindness, living with gratitude, and taking care of our minds and bodies. Letting our hearts lead the way can help move us closer to a better world. “I put my hands on my heart and listen. And that is where I find the I have compassion. I act with tenderness. I am love.”

I Am Love asks readers to look inward when they feel afraid, angry, hurt, or sad. When a storm is brewing inside us and the skies grow dark, the transformative power of love lets the light back in. Includes heart-opening yoga poses and a guided meditation.

Also
I Am Me
I Am Yoga
I Am Peace
I Am Human
I Am One
I Am Courage
I Am . . . A Box of Goodness!

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Love, Emotion, Friendship, Mental Health, Fiction

32 pages, Hardcover

Published September 17, 2019

About the author

Susan Verde is a New York Times bestselling children’s author, children’s yoga and mindfulness expert, former teacher, and parent. By 2022 she will have more than 20 picture books in the marketplace. She is a highly sought after speaker at conferences, festivals, and schools across the nation, and spends half the year on the road working with children and families. Verde is a frequent contributor to online magazines and has appeared on multiple podcasts speaking about writing, parenting, mindfulness, and yoga. She lives in East Hampton, New York.

Reviews

[Calista · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book and this is the book I NEED right now. It’s a simple book about love and how to show and create this power in the world. We put ourselves in situations with others and listen.

I love how simple the story is and how wonderful the artwork is. I need a copy of this book for myself. It lifted up my heart today and it’s a feel-good book. I can always use more of this in my life.

You can imagine the nephew wasn’t all that crazy about this. He thought the art was sort of good and he said it was like going to church. He gave it 2 stars. It wasn’t humorous and it only had normal people in it.

[KC · Rating 4 out of 5]

How one can be empathetic, kind, and understanding

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one was hard to rate. I am, obviously, an adult and not the intended audience. I also am not a parent and, thus again, not the intended audience. On my first read through, all I could think was “Oh my. That was all polish-and-pretty.” And I was a tad angry that anyone could think that you can love someone out of a depressive episode. Because, that dark cloud over the child? That to me read 1000% as a depressive episode.

Then, I read it again and took a step back. I tried to read it as I would to one of my nephews or a child at my library. It was then that I appreciated the simple message of compassion and how one bit of tolerance and love could blossom into a world-changing movement. Even with the re-read though, I worry that children will become discouraged when the book’s message doesn’t work immediately (love does take time to root in some -- and love alone will not "cure" depression). All-in-all, I could not stop overthinking the moral.

I truly vacillated between 3 and 4 stars. The bump to four stars is because of Peter H. Reynolds’s illustrations which always radiate such enthusiasm and brightness. I adore his work and I appreciated every line of his in this book.

Book includes author’s note, three yoga poses with instructions, and a heart meditation.

[Beth Honeycutt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to Lindsey for handing me this today. I needed it:)

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

So basic, but many adults could benefit from reading this ;)

[Lindsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holden’s heart needed this today...and so did mine! We are both starting tomorrow with an attitude of gratitude because of this book. ❤️

[Christina Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love says it all.

[Heather Jensen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series. It shows us all how to be more mindful and help us to understand ourselves and others.

[Els · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ik ben liefde. Tekst: Susan Verde. Illustraties: Peter H. Reynolds.

Sinds ik Ik ben yoga las ben ik fan van Verde en Reynolds. Samen maken zij prachtige, kleine, intieme kunstwerkjes van boeken die je hart en ziel instant veroveren met hun vrolijke tekeningen, poëtische teksten en hartverwarmende boodschap.

In dit boekje leren kinderen (én volwassenen) hoe liefde, in al zijn vormen, het licht bij je naar binnen kan brengen als je boos, bang of verdrietig bent. Liefde brengt letterlijk en figuurlijk kleur.

Als extraatje staan achterin het boek nog enkele hartopenende yogaoefeningen én een hartmeditatie. Schenk dit boekje aan iemand die een belangrijk plaatsje heeft in je hart. Waarom niet aan jezelf?

[Becky B · Rating 3 out of 5]

A celebration of ways to show love.

A feel good book about showing love. Reynolds illustration style is becoming quite iconic. I personally believe that our source of love for others can run dry and we need help from God to show love to others (and sometimes ourselves) so I disagree on a philosophical technicality with this book but agree with the overall sentiment.

[DW · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even good advice that makes me proud to read a book to a kid does not always move me personally. This one moved me. Very much.

Great 100% in French book for kids. Amazing aspirational statements about what compassion can mean but somehow not sickeningly over the top. The art hit just the right tone. Also, lightly based around yoga and meditation but that is only explained in the back pages. Great for a curious French reader in your life--toi-même!

[Deb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maybe it's too preachy and sweet, but I don't care. It gets the point across. Love people! Love is action! Love is bright, beautiful, and worth it! Makes me want to go out and make a positive difference in the world without apology.

[Liz Todd · Rating 1 out of 5]

No.

[Andi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book on compassion towards others and self.

[Diana · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely message with beautiful illustrations offered at the appropriate level of simplicity for children.

[Maryam]

dc

[Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really love this book!💗💎😁

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love these books

[Jessica Calaway · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

Reading age
3 - 8 years

[The Reading Countess · Rating 5 out of 5]

Susan Verde’s beautiful words paired with Peter Reynolds’ striking art? Yes, please. And so this continues the series of I AM books...

[Mimi.Y · Rating 5 out of 5]

Now this is LOVE!!! The way technology have advance and the social media world we don't always see real love but in this book it reminds all of us. Truly enjoy this book!!

[Abby Johnson]

This beautiful book is an affirmation that can be used with children of a wide range of ages. It celebrates the small ways that we can be there for each other and the small steps children of any age can take to make the world a better, more welcoming, more compassionate place. This is a great choice for group reading like starting the day in the classroom or whenever you want to open up a conversation about mindfulness and finding your place in the universe.

[Brittany · Rating 5 out of 5]

Apparently I've been on a children's book spree here lately. My kiddo brought I Am Love home at the end of the school year because his teacher gave the whole class a copy. Let me tell you, I adored this book so much. Everything about this book was perfection.

The message this book boasts, the illustrations and colors pop. I just loved everything about it. I think it really sends a message to our little ones that we all have love and compassion inside us and we can spread that love and compassion to everyone around us, because we never know what someone else might be going through.

Read this book! Whether you have children or not.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

Way to almost make me cry ;) awesome book with great real world ideas of how to show compassion

[Katherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read all the books in this series to my students and they frequently feature in our school assemblies. Breaking complex emotions into pieces for little kids to chew on, these books are vital in a world filled increasingly with division and hate. Not to mention the stunning artwork...

This book in particular helped my students to deal with the trauma of 2 weeks off school because of violent, racist and hostile protests all over the country and especially in our city and neighborhoods.

[Ember Air · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an amazing continuation of this series. I highly recommend all of the books both for young'ins and adults! It is good to have a reminder every once in a while.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read with Embers.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved it. I would have given it 5 stars if the message was simplified just a tad. But the message is great and the illustrations are amazing.

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pulsating with positive vibes.

[Allison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Compassion and Empathy are sorely missing in society today, so we must nurture it.