THE THINGS I LOVE

In this debut picture book, a young boy recalls his favorite things, including what he loves the most.

Through a succession of beautifully illustrated pages in Carroll’s well-crafted tale, a Black boy tells of the many things that have brought him happiness throughout his childhood as he looks back year by year, all the way to age 1. Tucked into bed at night in his room, he examines a photo album with his mom, recounting in brief, rhyming text his lively memories and experiences, depicted in Slife’s full-page illustrations as photographs mounted haphazardly in the album with tape and stickers. “At 10,” the boy begins, “I loved experiments, / to play defense, / and camp in tents.” “At 9,” he continues, “I loved to climb real high, / pretend to fly, / and dip tie-dye.” Rich with saturated colors and quirky, eye-capturing details, each page features three to four images of the narrator in action as he counts down the years. He is shown fishing, rollerblading, riding a bike, and playing with friends. These activities give way to what his younger self loved: digging for bugs, baking with Grandma, impersonating a dinosaur, until, “At 1…I loved to find my nose, / and cuddle close, / and chew my toes.” With genuine warmth and a delightful sweetness, the story ends with the boy’s tribute to Mom’s place in his heart and a lump-in-the-throat-inducing twist, giving her the last, loving word.

Tender and visually appealing, a child’s-eye appreciation of happy days and parental love.