What Is Love?

"[A] sweet and timeless lesson."--Kirkus Reviews

"[B]oth serious and amusing. . . moving. . . timeless. . . The shapes and patterns of Ellis's art, combined with the tenor of Barnett's narration, give this book an air of mystery, whatever love is or isn't."--The New York Times

"[C]aptured in richly colored gouache illustrations by Ellis [and] distinctive hand-lettering . . . [t]his moving, but never cloying, book--a specialty of author Barnett--will have children putting their inferencing skills to work. . . . Ellis's subtle details are gratifying--especially the grandmother's cozy pink house, the book's beating heart. Wholly lovable."--The Horn Book Magazine

"[With] some pleasingly humorous touches along the way . . . Ellis' gouache art is familiarly spare yet gem?tlich, picking up the text's folkloric mood as the boy travels. [What Is Love?] could lead to some interesting discussions about how we all define love."--The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

"Barnett's story is profound and accessible, a tale infused with a sense of adventure and a timeless quality. Carson Ellis' illustrations add color and energy to the proceedings. Thanks to her fanciful, detailed depictions, each character the boy encounters has a distinct personality. This journey will inspire readers to consider the book's central question and come up with answers of their own."--BookPage, starred review

"Gouache paintings by Ellis (In the Half Room) give the story a fairy tale atmosphere, and a sense of theater, too, as rakishly costumed characters pose like actors on a stage. Barnett (A Polar Bear in the Snow) injects humor by making the book's hero honest to a fault. . . . Ellis's spreads . . . retain her distinctive look throughout--an aesthetic perfectly suited to the tender moment when the boy returns home to the person who answers his question."--Publishers Weekly

"Lovely and lyrical . . . Flat gouache paintings provide the perfect ethereal setting for the fairy tale-like story. . . . The words and images work together to create layers of thought and understanding, making [What Is Love?] rewarding to a wide range of readers."--Booklist, starred review

"This poetic story appeals to a wide range of readers. . . Together, the narrative and illustrations are well balanced. . . Young children and their families will enjoy the blend of silliness and beauty in this memorable depiction of one boy's quest to learn more about love."--School Library Journal, starred review

"When a boy sets out to discover What Is Love?, many voices respond, but he must find his own answers in this touching, timeless affirmation of familial and familiar bonds."-- Shelf Awareness, starred review