THE LOVE TANK

Mendoza-Vasconez’s picture book demonstrates that self-care is about helping others as much as it’s about helping yourself.

In every person’s body, describes a mother to two children with white skin, are a set of tanks: one for food (stomach), one for knowledge (brain), and, most importantly, one for love (heart). “Just like the gas tank in a car that we fill with gas so the car will run, the tanks in your body fill up with other important things that can make you feel your best.” People with a full love tank may feel fulfilled, while those with an empty one might falter. They may seek solace in harmful behaviors, but a helping hand can pull them out of their funk. This ode to self-care and the power of community is Mendoza-Vasconez’s debut picture book and conveys its message in a simple, child-friendly way. While adults may question whether the concept of the tank means there is a limit to love or knowledge, kids may find the metaphor gives them a concrete way to balance and monitor their emotions. The narrator’s warmth and optimism are reflected in Nilson’s colorful, flowing illustrations that use a motif of swirling flowers to reinforce the cyclical impacts of people performing acts of kindness for each other.

Creatively encourages preschoolers to regulate their emotions and practice kindness.