This is Us Celebrating You, Amy Krouse Rosenthal

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5 Minutes for Books reviewer Dawn shares her admiration for author Amy Krouse Rosenthal along with a review of her latest picture book.

UPDATE: We are so sad to say that today, Monday Mar 13th, 2017, Amy Krose Rosenthal passed away.

By now, you’ve likely seen the essay written for The New York Times by the incomparable Amy Krouse Rosenthal titled “You May Want to Marry My Husband.” If you haven’t read it yet, please go do so now, but be certain to grab a box of tissues before you begin. Regardless of whether or not you’re familiar with Rosenthal’s body of work– which includes over 30 children’s books, a plethora of unique books geared to adults including two unconventionally formatted memoirs, a series of short films beautifully named “The Beckoning of Lovely,” and too many other incredible community-engaging projects over the years to even catalog– you will undoubtedly be moved by one human being’s expression of love for her partner as she faces her own imminent death.

Let me preface by saying that I have a long-standing admiration for Amy Krouse Rosenthal, and as a lover of children’s literature, she has been high on my list of “author crushes” for many, many years. Her creativity and unique voice come through on every project she has brought to fruition, and I appreciate her way of seeing beauty and joy in the world. She has contributed so much more beauty and joy to the lives of countless readers and participants in her ventures. I wrote a post on my personal blog, “A Love Letter to the Brilliant Amy Krouse Rosenthal,” to share my emotions about her role in my family’s life and to express our sheer love for her.

We’ve reviewed some of her books over on 5 Minutes for Books, including her most recent memoir, Textbook Amy Krouse Rosenthal, which was a delightfully interactive reading experience that left me smiling and appreciating the little things in my life. Her love of wordplay is apparent in so many aspects of this book, beginning with the title itself, which is multilayered in ways that are quickly understood upon starting the memoir.

This week, I ordered her most recently published children’s book, That’s Me Loving You, which I had intended to do when it came out in December but was reminded to do so again when I read her devastating essay. We have many of her children’s books in our family’s personal library, and I knew this one would be special. There’s a beauty, as always, in the simplicity of the text she has written for this picture book, and the charming and warm illustrations from Teagan White are perfect accompaniments.

Each two-page spread shows illustrations of young children in a variety of mostly outdoor environments with the text on the opposite page speaking as the presumed voice of a parent in touching phrases such as, “That shimmering star? That’s me winking at you,” and “That inviting ocean? That’s me waving at you.” This picture book is the very definition of a perfect story to read to a loved little one curled up on your lap.

Read now with the knowledge that Amy Krouse Rosenthal is in the final stages of ovarian cancer, this book becomes an even greater treasure in my mind, knowing that her spirit will live on in her tender words.

I want to celebrate the amazing work that Amy Krouse Rosenthal has created by encouraging you to dive into one of her books and see the world the way she does for a short while. Thank you, AKR, for sharing yourself with us.

Amy Krouse Rosenthal passed away on Monday, March 13, 2017. Read her obituary here.