How My Family Says I Love You

How do you say ＂I love you＂ without saying ＂I love you＂? For one big family, it’s woven into the fabric of every day in this tender, resonant picture book.

My sister Nalu braids my hair every week.
It’s how she says ＂I love you.＂

Tendo always races his sister to the finish line as they leave the house. Kira the dog greets her at the door with a wagging tail and a spin. Sometimes it’s Auntie Linda pulling her into her wheelchair for a hug, or Uncle Alex bringing his funny parrot for a visit. One jajja teaches her granddaughter how to make the chicken dish she learned as a child; another tells stories from far away, before she was born. Whether it’s Mom asking if she’s hungry a hundred times a day, or older siblings scaring away the monster that keeps her awake, the refrain ＂I love you＂ comes through loud and clear--and reminds us that there are countless ways to express affection to those that we hold dear.

Yvonne Sewankambo is the author of Good Hair, illustrated by Freda Chiu, and First There Was Me, Then There Was You, illustrated by Aurore McLeod.A Ugandan Canadian writer and publicist, she has worked on campaigns across several industries, including publishing, film, television, and the nonprofit sector. Having lived in four countries on three different continents (and traveled to even more), she is passionate about telling stories that transcend borders. Yvonne Sewankambo lives in Sydney, Australia.

Aurore McLeod was born in France, where she studied Viking archaeology. She then moved to Australia and discovered a passion for toy-making. It wasn’t until she started drawing her toy characters that she realized how much she enjoyed illustration. She now lives in Tasmania, where she spends her days drawing characters on paper or creating them out of fabric.