Picture This: That's Love

"I can name the leaves and even the trees, describe what I see in the clouds on the breeze.... I can feel the air and taste the sea.... I can count to a million and sing do-re-me.... but I can't name the look that I see on your face. It isn't a color, it isn't a place...."

There's a short sampling of the first part of one of my favorite picture books, since the images included are from the second half of the book. It's rare to find a book that combines words and images with such powerful simplicity. That's Love by Sam Williams, with illustrations by Mique Moriuchi, does just that. The simplicity of the poem, vibrant colors, and textures show a surprisingly complex understanding of this idea, or feeling, called love. After stating that it cannot be defined or named, the author and illustrator go on to describe this thing called love, with layers and depths exploring the "muddles... and cuddles." There is a certain understood consistency throughout their description, maybe steadfastness is the appropriate word? It does a beautiful job of taking a long quite look at something as simple and certain, and maybe complex, as the sky. It's easy to forget that children understand these concepts immediately. Thankfully, as adults we get to read these books too and be reminded there may be more to it than reason or romance... "and all the while, that's love."

See more of Mique Moriuchi's illustration here: www.miquemoriuchi.com

Williams, Sam. That's Love. Illus. Mique Moriuchi. New York: Holiday House, Inc. 2006. Print.