Carson Ellis

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.

Reviews
"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

Educator Information
Recommended for ages 3 to 5.

A classic love story: A wonderful narrative voice and spectacular pictures give this book the feel of a modern classic.

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.

Additional Information
44 pages | 9.00" x 11.00" | Hardcover