We Sang You Home

In words and pictures, a pair of parents celebrates their little one.As they did in Little You (2013), Canadian First Nations creators Van Camp (Tlicho Dene) and Flett (Cree-Metis) combine talents for a sweet and loving board book. The parents address their child as a unit, with first-person plural, using cadence and metaphor to convey their feelings. "We sang you from a wish / We sang you from a prayer." Few very young children will understand the concepts behind that sentiment, but they should understand "We give you kisses to help you grow" without much trouble. Van Camp's text turns to the reciprocal relationship between parents and child ("As we give you roots you give us wings // And through you we are born again") as Flett's crisp, digitally collaged gouache paintings depict, first, a ponytailed parent cuddling the child with one hand while picking berries with the other, then both parents together holding the child at a window as a bird flies by. Both parents are depicted with brown skin and black hair, as is the child; gender is implied visually via hairstyle but never confirmed in the text. Simple visual details also imply the little family's heritage--striped blankets, baby slings--but do not restrict it. The parents' certainty that their baby is "the best of all of us" is an affirmation every baby should hear. (Board book. 3 mos.-2) COPYRIGHT(1) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

December 1, 2021

K-Gr 2-Van Camp's lyrical free verse poem is a beautiful welcome and a thank you to the Indigenous child who brings joy into the parents' lives. In answer to wishes and prayers, a baby joins the home of a couple who truly cherish this new life. Gouache and digital collages create charming vignettes of a contented family of three. A few pictures offer details, such as the baby with two new teeth, but the majority of illustrations are simple shapes saturated with color. Talking directly to the infant, the parent expresses love: "As we give you roots you give us wings. And through you we are born again." Pictures of the doting parents with their child always nearby are warm and loving. VERDICT Van Camp and Flett have created a heartfelt tale for parents welcoming their newest family member.-Maryann H. Owen, Oak Creek P. L., WI

Copyright 2021 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

December 1, 2021

Baby-Toddler-Van Camp captures the love and joy of new parents welcoming a baby into their lives. Told from the first-person perspective of two new parents, the story highlights what they hope to give to their child, from kisses to songs, while also depicting the sense of happiness that their child gives them. The final page concludes with a simple yet candid declaration: "Welcome to the world! We love you!" The writing is minimal but has a lyrical, musical quality, as Van Camp uses poetic, metaphoric language, such as the phrases, "Our forever home is inside of you" and "Through you we are born again." As a result, a good portion of the book may go over the heads of its intended audience and will be better appreciated by parents than young readers, making it more suitable for one-on-one sharing. Flett's illustrations, made using gouache on paper and digital collage, are muted and understated, matching the tranquil tone of the text. While some of the prose might be a little too abstract for young children to fully understand, the emotions of parenthood-including feelings of love, elation, and gratitude-are certain to be conveyed to them by the parents who share this tale with them. VERDICT A lovely picture book that will resonate with parents and show young readers the profound, positive impact they have on their parents' lives.-Laura J. Giunta, Garden City Public Library, NY

Copyright 2016 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.