LOVE FROM AMERICA

A buoyant celebration of diversity and the best that America has to offer.

Jospitre has chosen just a dozen or so direct affirmations to characterize the United States. Some attributes refer to the country’s physical qualities or infrastructure: its beauty, its history, the grandeur of its scenery and cities. But what comes through most strongly is its people. The author highlights Americans’ willingness to help, their sense of caring, their moral and political commitment to “what’s right,” their courageous aspiration, and, above all, their love. An opening map displays typical U.S. symbols: a bison, Mt. Rushmore, Idaho potatoes, Georgia peaches. But this book goes beyond cliches; Thomas’ glorious, realistic illustrations depict racially diverse Americans happily mingling—immigrants at Ellis Island, a male-presenting couple holding hands, gymnast Simone Biles showing off one of her astounding routines, suffragists protesting, and Rosa Parks sitting in a bus seat. A scene of demonstrators has no overt political symbolism but shows people with raised fists and subtle retro-style sunbeams in the background. The penultimate spread shows a soldier in fatigues being greeted exuberantly by family members. The final spread surrounds another map with various figures, one using a wheelchair, one in hijab, everyone, old and young, dancing with uninhibited cheerfulness.

Patriotism is inclusive and joyful in this bright, beautiful book of U.S. icons and values.