Love

Written by: Matt de la Peña and Loren Long

First line: In the beginning there is light and two wide-eyed figures standing near the foot of your bed, and the sound of their voices is love.

Why you should read this book: With heartwarming, multi-cultural illustrations and poetic prose, this book offers concrete examples for small children to understand the abstract concept of love, not in the romantic Hollywood sense, or even just, as the first line suggests, as it pertains to parents and children, but every expression of the emotion a child might experience in life: street musicians and friendships and self acceptance. It also covers those moments when it feels like the floor has dropped out from beneath your feet, as adults freak out about bad things happening and children experience nightmares of missing love. This is the kind of book that librarians love, a good length for reading out loud even to fidgety audiences, just very beautiful.

Why you shouldn't read this book: You're one of those crotchety misanthropes who has long since given up on the human race.