Sometimes Love

June 1, 2022
Life in a military family teaches a child to keep love alive through big changes. One day, a toddler is presented with a gift: a droopy-eared puppy poking its head out of a picnic basket. The two grow up together, and scenes of playing with balls and rolling in grass are interspersed with the ruining of rugs that leads to exasperation, then forgiveness ("Love is firm. / Love can bend"). What might otherwise be a snapshot of new dog ownership takes a turn when the child's parent, an active duty soldier, is deployed overseas. The shock and anger the child feels turns into sadness and acceptance when the family leaves the dog behind with a service promising "Pet Care for Serving Soldiers." The family moves, makes friends, and eventually returns home, where the dog, now grown, is waiting for our main character. They've grown as well and learned that their love for the dog, and the dog's love for them, has only grown stronger. The book contains no names or dialogue but eloquently conveys a wide range of emotions and lessons through its spare prose and expressive digital illustrations that seem to shimmer off the page. It's also a great primer for young readers about the unique challenges military families face. The main character and their family are brown-skinned. (This book was reviewed digitally.) An important lesson for young readers conveyed poetically with lots of heart. (author's note) (Picture book. 4-8)

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Starred review from July 1, 2022
Preschool-Grade 1 *Starred Review* This wonderful book about love, loss, and reunion follows developments within a mixed-race military family. Written in lilting rhyme, it opens with the parents giving their toddler daughter a puppy. Adorable vignettes show the passage of time as the girl and her dog grow together. Then, as is common in military life, the family must suddenly relocate and is unable to take the dog with them. After many tears and hugs, the beloved pup is dropped off with an organization called "Pet Care for Serving Soldiers." Years go by, but, finally, the girl is reunited with her dog, their love as strong as ever. Soft, luminous digital illustration give off a rainbow of color, whose dominant tones reflect the mood of the narrative. Whimsical, bright hues support the happiness and an upbeat tempo of the bulk of the story, but the strategic use of purple and blue pastels--and scenes framed by a sunset--convey the sadness pertaining to loss. The easy-to-read text is perfect for young readers who need a story that is accessible and repetitious, and the book's creators do a terrific job of gently broaching the difficult topics of moving and giving up a pet. Teaching children how to live with loss is an important lesson, and this offering accomplishes this task exceptionally well.

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