I Drew a Heart

A child finds inspiration, encouragement, and an affirming sense of self in their loving Chinese–cued family’s interpretations of the child’s creations. Whether it’s via steam on a bathroom mirror, dumpling dough at the kitchen table, or a pencil and sketchpad en plein air, the protagonist creates all manner of hearts—each of which evokes a special comparative. A wobbly heart resembles dancing hips in a sibling’s estimation, and a shape “that looked like a cloud,/ a small sack of rain” will, says Ah Ma, “change with the skies.” By book’s end, the child realizes that all the differing shapes they drew are part of their own heart. Stoop’s mixed-media illustrations, including acrylics and gouache on wood, and Sze’s gentle words depict the loving details of one family’s rhythms in this tender ode to creativity and connection. Ages 4–8. (Dec.)