posted on 12 Mar 2024

L is for Love by Atinuke, illustrated by Angela Brooksbank

If you are looking for a feel-good picture book with plenty of generous illustrations, then this is the one for you. It is the second collaboration of this award-winning Nigerian author  and illustrator, Angela Brooksbank who created the much admired ‘B is for Baby’. I suspect that there may be several more in the pipeline using the same format.

I enjoyed looking at this one with Naomi, my nine year old granddaughter who offered plenty of helpful comments. The cover shows two young children focussing on a happy looking baby held by another girl. The message is that they are thoroughly delighted by one another’s company in tune with the title of the book. We also liked the brightly coloured back cover design with a big red heart at the centre.

We lingered over the end papers which provide some colour contrast as they show many of the items that will be included in the main body of the book, but suffused with a yellowy orange. Every subsequent turn of the page provides a feast for the eyes with so much detail included to talk about. I liked the title pages which show a house set in a lemon tree orchard busy with children climbing on ladders, carrying baskets and having fun on a swing. The washing line is pegged out with colourful clothes and there are several animals wandering about. There are already plenty of full baskets waiting under the trees and the atmosphere is busy but somehow relaxed at the same time. We decided that working hard together in the sunshine probably helps the mood.

The narrative then takes us on an interesting and eventful journey from harvest to market with plenty of examples of ‘L’ words along the way eg lorry, lift, lucky, lightening, laundry, lolling and light. Naomi wondered why the author chose this particular letter but we agreed that there were plenty of vocabulary opportunities. This book would be a perfect stimulus for children writing stories with a similar framework, perhaps using a different initial letter.

One of her favourite double page spreads was the one showing a pride of lazy lions lying in the sun scorched grass and a lonely leopard sitting rather nonchalantly in a tree:

‘it reminds me of my family and me being like the lonely leopard because I am an only child. I wonder if Atinuke likes those animals?’

We both enjoyed the luscious colours of the rural landscape as they travelled through the countryside, but really loved the depiction of densely packed, colourful, noisy Lagos. The centre is buzzing with city life and we get glimpses of side streets brimming with lovely patterned fabrics and lace. The family arrive at their destination, set out their wares and sell their lemons to enthusiastic customers. Before setting off back home they enjoy what looks like a delicious lunch.

Naomi asked whether the author had lived in Lagos and, as it looked so fantastic, why on earth did she move away? I think that we were both impressed enough to make a visit there at some point, which is credit to the illustrator.

In contrast, I liked the long, quiet journey home in the creeping darkness through the rural landscape and their very late arrival in the moonlight where they are welcomed with a big hug from loving grandparents.

Now available from Walker Books, you will be able to get a copy of this gorgeous picture book from your local independent bookshop - who will be happy to order it for you if they don’t have one on their shelves.

Strongly recommended.

 

Karen Argent and Naomi Adeoya

March 2024