How do you say I love you? by Barton, Ashleigh
This book was part of the Notable list for the Children’s Book Council of Australia’s Book of the Year Awards – Early Childhood.
From the bestselling creators of What Do You Call Your Grandpa?, What Do You Call Your Grandma? and What Do You Do to Celebrate? In every country around the globe, we all have ways to show the people who mean the most to us what they ought to know. From bestselling duo Ashleigh Barton and Martina Heiduczek comes an exuberant and beautiful book that celebrates the many different ways we say ‘I love you‘, in languages the world over. How Do You Say I Love You? Is a heartwarming look at how we tell our loved ones how much we care.
‘How do you say I love you?’ written by Ashleigh Barton and illustrated by Martina Heiduczek is a beautiful, heart-warming and inclusive book that shares the phrase “I love you in” 13 languages, including Auslan. A mix of familiar and lesser-known languages are used throughout the story, encouraging readers to expand their knowledge of other cultures and languages in a fun and simple way.
The story shows children around the world saying ‘I love you’ to someone important to them, allowing young readers the opportunity to see themselves, their friends and families, while also providing opportunities to discuss cultural backgrounds and languages that differ from their own. We may say ‘I love you’ in different ways, but the meaning is universal no matter where we live in the world or what language we speak.
The story is written using four lines of rhyming stanzas. The phrase ‘I love you’ is weaved into the rhyme in each language and is printed in a different colour to help it stand out. Detailed notes are included in the endpapers that offer an explanation of the origins of the language and provide instances of different dialects or regional variations to the term used in the verse.
The gorgeous illustrations feature people of all backgrounds and show diversity across the world. The illustrations enhance the text by providing details about the child, their family, home and country, often including details that typify the specific country. Little readers will notice that no matter what the words are, the characters all have loving expressions.
‘How do you say I love you?’ is a recent addition to the series by Barton and Heiduczek who have given us the equally delightful, ‘What do you call your grandpa?’ ‘What do you call your grandma?’ and ‘What do you do to celebrate?’ These beautifully written and illustrated picture books foster inclusivity, language development and cultural understanding in young and old readers alike.
This book is a great addition to any family’s story time and was a pleasure to read and explore. Not to mention it is wonderful to learn know how to say ‘I love you’ in so many languages!
All these titles are available to borrow from the Cockburn Libraries.
