What Is Love?

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A child sets out on a journey to understand the nature of love but finds that the answer to his question looks very different from person to person. I am so delighted to see this team-up! Mac Barnett and Carson Ellis have been rocking the picture book world separately for years and this first project from them as a creative duo is a gentle, sweetly humorous, and always heartfelt joy. Recommended By Sarah R., Powells.com

A beautiful fable about the nature of love, from beloved, award-winning picture book creators Mac Barnett and Carson Ellis.

"What is love?" a young boy asks. "I can't answer that," his grandmother says, and so the boy goes out into the world to find out. But while each person he meets—the fisherman, the actor, and others—has an answer to his question, not one seems quite right. Could love really be a fish, or applause, or the night? Or could it actually be something much closer to home? This tender, funny tale is an original take on the "I love you" story, a picture book treasure for all ages to read and cherish.

A CLASSIC LOVE STORY: A wonderful narrative voice and spectacular pictures give this book the feel of a modern classic. Fans of The Runaway Bunny, Guess How Much I Love You, and Love You Forever will adore this book.

A BOOK THAT KIDS AS WELL AS PARENTS WILL ENJOY: Many books about the love between parents and children are told from an adult's point of view. This book begins from the child's perspective, and it's funny and unexpected in ways that children can relate to, while being thoughtful in ways that adults will appreciate. Like all great children's books, this book can be understood on many levels.

A BOOK ABOUT FINDING YOURSELF: The boy's journey takes him to many different people, whose descriptions of what love means to them is very much about how they see themselves and their lives.

A GREAT READ-ALOUD: The engaging text is full of surprises and the distinctive voice of the narrator invites audiences to respond.

"This poetic story appeals to a wide range of readers….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)

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

"This 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

“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)

Mac Barnett is the New York Times bestselling author of over 20 books for children, including Extra Yarn and Sam and Dave Dig a Hole, both winners of a Caldecott Honor and the E.B. White Read-Aloud Award. His picture books Leo: A Ghost Story and The Skunk were named two of the Ten Best Illustrated Books of 2015 by the New York Times. He lives in Oakland. You can visit him at www.macbarnett.com.

Carson Ellis is the author and illustrator of the bestselling picture books Home and Du Iz Tak? and has illustrated countless books for children. She lives on a farm in Oregon with her husband, two sons, and numerous animals