When You Gave Me You

Papercut silhouette art by author-illustrator Rice serves as a haunting background to this poignant rhyming poem. Bold black silhouettes outline a short-haired child celebrating their birthday party at a picnic table with family and friends. Relayed from the second-person perspective, the narration is seemingly delivered by the child’s guardian, who expresses appreciation for the child’s many positive qualities: “It’s your playful spirit/ and creative spark,” one page reads, showing the child building a model of a theropod. “And your sweet soul/ and loving heart,” the facing page completes, showing the child stroking a dog’s ears. Throughout, the refrain “You gave me a gift/ when you gave me you” serves to emphasize the narrator’s deep gratefulness for their child, though perhaps also unintentionally underscoring an uncomfortable sense of ownership. Each page’s silhouetted art stands out against textured, gradient backgrounds with watercolor-like appeal in this solemn, greeting card–like readaloud. Ages 3–5. (Sept.)