My Community Loves Me

I am a baby. And like many baby animals, I need a lot of care from my community!

Nature is full of examples where relatives, friends, and neighbors come together to nurture, protect, and teach their young. With soft, yet striking illustrations of North American animals, this heartwarming book offers sweet glimpses into animal behaviors and how care and cooperation are essential for raising the next generation.

From a watchful mother goose to a cozy huddle of bats, with every page young readers see how different animals give and receive care - just like they do! While children delight in the animal stories, parents and caregivers benefit from valuable guidance on how to support a baby’s growth. With three layers of text connecting animals to children, and children to their caregivers, My Community Loves Me is a joyful celebration of empathy and the power of community.

Author of several books on how animal behaviors help us better understand ourselves, Dia L. Michels’ educational focus pairs perfectly with illustrator Romain Lubière’s sensitive, poetic look at nature. This early childhood book fosters a deeper appreciation for the natural world.

Dia L. Michels is an award-winning science and parenting writer of books for both children and adults. She has authored or edited over a dozen books primarily on the themes of attachment parenting and breastfeeding. This is her fourth book specifically exploring the mammal world and the lessons we can extract from studying animal behaviors. A popular speaker, she lectures frequently at conferences, universities, libraries, and schools around the country. Her books have been translated into a variety of languages. The mother of three grown children, she lives with her five cats in the Capitol Hill neighborhood of Washington, D.C.

Romain Lubière was born in France in 1981. After 3 years at the École des Beaux-arts de Saint-Étienne and experience as a graphic designer, he turned to children’s illustration in 2016.
His portfolio offers a sensitive, poetic look at nature, the animal world and human feelings. He combines traditional techniques (pencil, watercolor, gouache) with digital tools. Since 2020, Romain has been represented by Advocate Art to develop his work outside France. He regularly offers workshops/meetings in schools, media libraries, and at book fairs. Alongside his work as an illustrator, he is also a stage performer in the children’s show ＂Le Voyage de Léa＂, co-created with Damien Gayton as part of the Le phare à son company.