You Are the Loveliest

Sometimes our feelings are so big, our dreams and our worries so wide, that we can’t find the words to express them.

How MUCH love we feel; what a new sibling will bring; exactly what it’s like to take a hard tumble, or to want the sun to shine on a rainy day.

These thoughts and questions are explored by Hans and Monique Hagen in poems pitched perfectly to the children who wonder.

Marit Törnqvist is their brilliant partner, spreading gorgeous color and heartfelt imagery across these pages. If you want a sneak peek at what we mean, turn to the sunflower spread on page thirty, and feel...yourself smile.

P R A I S E

★ ＂A symbiotic, child-affirming union of poignant verse and charming illustrations: lovely, indeed.＂
--Kirkus (starred)

＂A contemplative gem＂
--Booklist

＂This beautifully translated, poetic story gives young readers a unique understanding of the intricacies and range of human emotions.＂
--School Library Journal

Hans and Monique Hagen are among the most famous children’s poets in the Netherlands. They were the Dutch Children’s Book Laureates from 2017 to 2019. They have won two Silver Pencils for their poetry, among many other literary prizes. Their poem You Are the Loveliest is beloved in the Netherlands, featured on countless birth, wedding, and funeral cards. The You Are the Loveliest collection has been translated into Swedish, German, Japanese, Chinese, Russian, and Farsi.

Marit Törnqvist was born in Uppsala, Sweden, and moved to the Netherlands with her family when she was five. Her illustrations of Astrid Lindgren’s work have gained her international acclaim, as has her writing. The first book she wrote, A Short Story About Love, won a Silver Pencil. Bigger Than a Dream, written by Jef Aerts and illustrated by Marit Törnqvist, was published in the U.S. on Levine Querido’s inaugural list.