When Love Is More Than Words

* “There’s more than one way to say, ‘I love you.’ . . . Actions big and small and contextual clues send the same message. Great-grandma A-tzo always gives her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren the most luscious loquats from her garden. A patch of blooming blue irises planted by the child’s now-deceased grandpa Keyo A-gong is a reminder of his presence. Mama saves the young narrator the tastiest part of the fish—‘even if it means she gets the tail.’ Observing siblings, aunties, uncles, and more caring for one another, the child realizes ‘I have a village of people around me.’ It’s through ‘their laughter / their sacrifices / and their presence’ that the child hears ‘I love you.’ Chung’s elegant text is rife with concrete details, while Kuo deftly uses bold colors, black lines, and textures to create warmly energetic scenes of family gatherings and tables heaped with food. With joy and tenderness, Chung and Kuo convey an important truth; young people whose families express love in different ways will feel seen, heard, and embraced. . . . Readers will feel the love—in every well-chosen word and each exquisite image.” —Kirkus Reviews, starred review

* “The caring acts of loved ones are the focus of this first-person work that models how affection can be relayed by actions. . . . Conveying close-up images of family pairs caring for each other, Kuo’s sharply drawn digital illustrations use a graphic style with flat planes of color to suggest a depth of love expressed.” —Publishers Weekly, starred review

“What is love? Is love a belly full of food made just for you, or when you’re given the best pieces at dinner? Is it flowers planted outside your window for your birthday? Is it when you’re taught something new or protected from danger? A girl sees and feels love every day from the many members of her family, living and dead, in a work that shows how actions speak louder than words. Chung demonstrates Taiwan’s intricate history by using Japanese names and Taiwanese phrases throughout her thoughtful prose. Kuo’s digital art is soft and warm, a perfect complement to Chung’s loving words. . . . Kuo also uses backgrounds to quietly demonstrate the intricacies of Taiwanese descent, showing a Japanese-style home in one spread and Chinese lettering on a wall decoration for another, in addition to delicious depictions of meals shared. This is a sweet book about love being shown in all the ways that matter and would be enjoyed by parents and children reading together or in story-hour settings.” —School Library Journal