I Know the River Loves Me/Yo sé que el río me ama
Written & Illustrated by Maya Christina González
Lee & Low Books • 2012 • 24 pages
Paperback ($8.95)
ISBN: 978-0-89239-236-0
Ages 5-7
This follow up to González’s award-winning My Colors, My World (Children’s Book Press, 2007), awakens children’s appreciation for nature by tapping into their love for water play. With mostly single sentences on each page, little ones may want to tackle reading this one for themselves. From cover to cover, vibrant blue, aqua and green swirling and whirling lines capture the essence of a river’s flow. The author personifies the river, turning it into a friend who loves, and should be loved back.
Read Related: The Napping House/La casa adormecida
On every page, the river-turned-playmate allows a little girl to play, float, splash and soak in its waters. Without lecturing, the message surfaces crystal clear: All those fun activities are possible because the river is clean! So clean, in fact, that the little girl can see her own reflection in it. Engage your child in a conversation about stewardship of the environment. Ask: How can we show love for a river? How can we care for it? This story’s impact on young readers could literally make a difference in their world.
—Reviewed by Gisela Norat, Ph.D., Agnes Scott College, Atlanta Georgia
