I Like Your Face by Brad Davidson is a celebration of what it means to be a best friend. Two children are depicted in colorful cartoon-like illustrations as they show each other their bond through facial expressions, for example: “Hangry” and “Pretending-to-Be-Brave” faces, alongside sure-to-induce-giggles “Holding-in-a-Fart” face. They imagine what it will be like to grow up and grow old together, assuring each other with their “I’m-There-for-You” face that they will always have each other’s backs. A fun added touch are the equally expressive pets that pop up from time to time.

Children ages 4-8 (and their grownups) will find both hilarious and touching moments in this sweet ode to friendship. We may never know exactly what draws us to certain people, but these young friends express it well when they simply say, “I like your face. It’s super special.”

Recommended for school and public libraries looking to expand their picture book collections featuring diverse children, socio-emotional learning, and how to read facial cues. Would work well as a read-aloud, and this reviewer would definitely ask listeners to name the kinds of faces the pets and other background characters are expressing.

Reviewed by Beth Almquist, Lewiston Public Library.