This month’s PB review is by Ryan G. Van Cleave (Fan of All Things Crazy–especially Love–at Only Picture Books) and Ringling College of Art and Design Illustration Professor (and OPB superfriend) John Herzog.
–Ryan’s Review of the Writing–
I’ve got a soft spot in my picture-book-loving heart for stories that help children better understand what it is to be loved (like Sam McBratney’s Guess How Much I Love You, Robert Munsch’s Love You Forever, and Matt de la Peña’s Love, to name just a few of my favs), and A Crazy-Much Love is in that same sweet spirit.
From the very first line–“You are the one, precious child–did you know?”–it’s clear that this story is from the point of view of eager, excited, and thankful parents who are telling their daughter exactly how she came to be part of their family. Not just any part, either, but a vital, important, and unique part, as seen in lines such as: “You were the one we hoped for, and prayed for, and piled up stuffed bears for.”
From first words to first steps to a first ride on a trike, the parents recount milestones with joy, compassion, and love. At times, though, the child asks questions that any child–adopted or not–might eventually wonder. “How much is the crazy-much love?” and “How long does it last, the crazy-much love?”
It’s a nice touch to have the child laugh when asking those tough questions because, as the story says and the parents know, “you already know.” Of course she does. There’s a sense of ritual to this family’s origin story that feels like the sort of thing they regularly tell, just as some kids love to flip through photo albums or request a favorite story over and over.
The answer to the child’s questions powerfully comes across via the smiling faces of the entire family in the art as well as in the powerful refrain “It was you” which, at the very end of the story, becomes “It is YOU.” It’s no surprise to learn that author Jordan-Lake is drawing upon her own experience of adopting a child from China here because the emotions here feel honest and true.
This is a terrific addition to anyone’s bookshelves, whether they’re part of an adoptive family or not.
4.5 out of 5 pencils
–John’s Review of the Illustrations–
2019 has been a year marred by incessant bedlam. Every day, news organizations dish out an onslaught of stories that detail corrupt leadership, international conflict, wealth inequality, civil and equal rights violations, and so on and so on. Given all of this madness, how grateful I am to close out this year with a review of A Crazy-Much Love, in which the only major conflict is a child sneaking their dog onto a school bus.
The story by Joy Jordan-Lake is a simple yet effective one: Told from the perspective of an eager young couple, they adopt a child from another country and narrate the book, telling said child about their “crazy-much love” for them. The book is a straightforward love letter from parent to child that most everyone can relate to, and (thankfully) strives to be nothing more.
Contrasting that simplicity are the wonderful illustrations by Sonia Sánchez. While they are on the messy side, they’re chock-full of all-too tangible expression and life. The compositions and colors start off fairly simple, then become more visually rich and complex after the child is brought home. I really enjoy how the “crazy-much love” is first depicted as simple shapes and colors, then evolves into more complex shapes and colors as the child grows older. The character designs are also incredibly fun and relatable, with subtle nods to the likes of Quentin Blake and Mary Blair.
I must admit that A Crazy-Much Love really struck a chord with me on a personal level, as I have some incredibly close friends who have adopted several children. It’s fantastic to see a book like this where their story, along with countless others, is represented. If anything, I’m thankful to end the year reviewing a book like this, which extols the virtues of love, patience, and compassion. We’re definitely going to need them as we head into a potentially turbulent 2020.
4.75 out of 5 crayons
John Herzog is an illustrator and educator. His clients include Hasbro, Dreamworks TV, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, and Highlights for Children. He also teaches illustration classes at Ringling College of Art and Design. John is a member of the Society of Illustrators and SCBWI, and received the 2018 SCBWI Magazine Merit Award for his Highlights High Five cover illustration. He lives in Florida with his wife, two kids, a tarantula, a bearded dragon, and a fish.