Love Is Powerful by Heather Dean Brewer, LeUyen Pham
Published by Candlewick Press on September 8, 2020
ISBN: 1536201995
Pages: 32
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads

Mari is a young brown-skinned girl who lives in an apartment with her mom. Together, she and her mother are using a rainbow of colors to make a sign. Mari wonders who will hear their message, and her mother assures her that the whole world will hear. They join a large crowd of diverse people on the sidewalk and march together for peace, love, and kindness. This is a story of community action, a story of family, and a story of believing in good. Mari is determined to make her message heard. She shouts it to the sky, and the entire crowd joins her.

This is a good story for reminding kids that their voice matters and their voice can make a difference. The illustrations are colorful and carry the story well. Though the crowds depicted are diverse, throughout the book, people other than Mari and her mother have a bit of a muted hue making it easier to find them among the sea of faces. This is a great read aloud for small groups or for one-on-one sharing and further discussion. Recommended for readers 4 and up.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME