Love Is Here

by Mike Malbrough

Listen. Do you hear it?
Hidden up in the storm clouds, stored up and waiting. It's time for a celebration.
Love is here.

Told through poetic and lyrical text and accompanied by lush watercolor illustrations, a child takes a magical journey in search of love, only to find that it lived everywhere, in everything, even in one's own backyard. A celebration of the interconnectedness of our lives and proof that love is all around you--if you look closely enough for it. Even when the world feels darkest, love is here. Perfect for those looking to teach kindness and empathy to little ones.

Genres: Picture Books, Love, Childrens, Nature, Juvenile, Poetry, Storytime

40 pages, Hardcover

Published December 21, 2021

Reviews

[Jason]

This part: "Love is calling from the deep. Soft, low, and swelling with mystery. Can love be more amazing than this?"
And this: "Love is yours. Hold it gently. Can you feel it tugging?"
And this: "Love is here. Bright, free, and closer than you think."

Amen.

[Jo Oehrlein]

The illustrations are gorgeous.

The story is basically that love is everywhere.

[N]

Good illustrations and meaningful

[Viviane Elbee]

The art in this book is gorgeous.

The text reads a bit like a poem, showing love all around the world and universe.

While reading this this book it occurred to me that in certain places you can replace the word love with God, or with the words God’s love, and the story would still pretty much work. Some people may prefer to read it this way.

[Erin]

This book feels like it's trying way too hard. There are so many of these "this is what love is" books lately, and they all feel unnecessarily esoteric. Not sure many kids ages 3-7 would get into this without a big, confused look on their faces or with any better understanding of what LOVE is after reading it. Not for me. An extra star because the art is nice.

[Olivia]

See my full review here: https://www.yabookscentral.com/kidsfi...

LOVE IS HERE is a magical, whimsical, and stunning picture book read. The poetic language describes how love is everywhere, all around, capturing the majesty and prevalence of love all around. Sweeping illustrations bring the poetry and magic to life, with vivid colors, stunning details, and intriguing metaphors.

What I loved: This is a beautiful picture book that demonstrates love in the world and universe around. It takes the reader to the surprising majesty of the ocean, the intriguing expanse of the solar system, and the beauty in the growth of new flowers. The poetic language captures this abstract concept well, flowing off the tongue so smoothly. The ending showing a friendship between two young children adds to expanse that is love.

The font is large and easy to read, with key switches between black and white text so it is readable even in low light. The amount of text on each page works well for a wide range of ages, from toddlers and up. Combined with the detailed, stunning, and gorgeous artwork, children will enjoy exploring the imagery of the story along with the poetic text. Adults will also appreciate the beauty of the illustrations throughout.

Final verdict: A magical and whimsical story about love, LOVE IS HERE is a sweeping picture book that children and caregivers can enjoy together.

Please note that I received a review copy. All opinions are my own.

[Audrey | WellReadandUndead(ish)]

Honestly, I did not connect to the words at all. They’re very abstract with the message being that love is all around you and takes many forms. I’m more literal, so I tend to like books that are that way too. What is ASTOUNDING in this book are the illustrations. I could look at them again and again. They took me on a journey and reminded me of the kind of imagination I had as a child. I recommend looking through this book just for that experience. The text would get 2 stars, the illustrations and story it painted would get 5 stars. I’ll average it out and round it up to 4.

[Andrew]

Whether you read it as a metaphor for love's blooms, or as a literal interpretation of how love is embedded in everything from the rain to the cosmos, Love Is Here is a beautifully illustrated book with the calm and serene message of its title: Love is here, it's everywhere, and exists within yourself and others, if you watch and listen closely.

[Cheryl]

I dunno. Is it intensely metaphoric? I mean, nebulae don't know anything about love. At least, about the kind of love 'revealed' at the end. Some of the illustrations are lovely but others make me blink away. I would not have liked this a child, nor can I imagine sharing it with one.

[Cheryl]

Love the illustrations. Love that love is found in every little or big amazing thing on earth and in nature.

[Nicole]

Such a beautiful written book.

[Y.Poston]

Beautiful

[Alyssa]

Simple but poetic ode to wonder and love, everywhere in the world around us and in the universe.

[DaNae]

Reading this with Wonder Walkers for Earth Day

[Mai]

5 stars for the illustration. Beautiful work.
2 stars for the story. Eh.

[Nancy]

Colorful presentation of the importance of loving nature and each other

[Nichole]

I don't know about this one. I really liked it-- but then you get to the end and the looking into each other's eyes while reaching for the same thing is always coded as romantic, so it seems weird?

[Sharon🔮👽]

This is a great book to remind the kiddos that love is everywhere!

[Ariel]

Stunning art and dreamlike text make this a book to be read again and again.

[Audrey Pollard]

Through beautiful illustrations of different landscapes around the world, love lasting through everything is represented. The girl travels though different lands and talks about love.

[Effie]

Gorgeous illustrations

[Carrie Jacobs]

Love the illustrations.

[Miss Janis the Storytime Lady]

nebulous. I mostly made it up and talked about the pictures.

[Anthony]

A young child takes a plunge into the world around her both near and far, and finds that love is all around her, and waiting to be shared.