I Am Loved

by Nikki Giovanni, Ashley Bryan (Illustrations)

Newbery Award honoree Ashley Bryan has hand-selected a dozen of National Book Award winner Nikki Giovanni’s poems to illustrate with his inimitable flourish.

There is nothing more important to a child than to feel loved, and this gorgeous gathering of poems written by Nikki Giovanni celebrates exactly that. Hand-selected by Newbery honoree Ashley Bryan, he has, with his masterful flourish of color, shape, and movement, added a visual layering that drums the most impartant message of all to young, old, parent, child, grandparent, and friend You are loved. You are loved. You are loved. As a bonus, one page is mirrored, so children reading the book can see exactly who is loved—themselves!

Genres: Poetry, Picture Books, Childrens, African American, Art, Family, Nonfiction

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 8, 2018

About the author

Yolande Cornelia "Nikki" Giovanni Jr. was an American poet, writer, commentator, activist, and educator. One of the world's most well-known African-American poets, her work includes poetry anthologies, poetry recordings, and nonfiction essays, and covers topics ranging from race and social issues to children's literature. She won numerous awards, including the Langston Hughes Medal and the NAACP Image Award. She was nominated for a Grammy Award for her poetry album, The Nikki Giovanni Poetry Collection. Additionally, she was named as one of Oprah Winfrey's 25 "Living Legends". Giovanni was a member of The Wintergreen Women Writers Collective.
Giovanni gained initial fame in the late 1960s as one of the foremost authors of the Black Arts Movement. Influenced by the Civil Rights Movement and Black Power Movement of the period, her early work provides a strong, militant African-American perspective, leading one writer to dub her the "Poet of the Black Revolution". During the 1970s, she began writing children's literature, and co-founded a publishing company, NikTom Ltd, to provide an outlet for other African-American women writers. Over subsequent decades, her works discussed social issues, human relationships, and hip hop. Poems such as "Knoxville, Tennessee" and "Nikki-Rosa" have been frequently re-published in anthologies and other collections.
Giovanni received numerous awards and holds 27 honorary degrees from various colleges and universities. She was also given the key to over two dozen cities. Giovanni was honored with the NAACP Image Award seven times. One of her more unique honors was having a South America bat species, Micronycteris giovanniae, named after her in 2007.
Giovanni was proud of her Appalachian roots and worked to change the way the world views Appalachians and Affrilachians.
Giovanni taught at Queens College, Rutgers, and Ohio State, and was a University Distinguished Professor at Virginia Tech until September 1, 2022. After the Virginia Tech shooting in 2007, she delivered a chant-poem at a memorial for the shooting victims.

Reviews

[leynes · Rating 3 out of 5]

I recently purchased this book because it was one of three titles in my "Black Writers Matter" collection that I didn't own. I had read it in a bookshop (it literally took 5 minutes because it only contains 11 poems by Nikki Giovanni, so I don't feel too bad about that lmao) – which is why I didn't own it.

Since I found a used copy for only 9€ (shipping included, yay) and remembered the vibrant watercolor illustrations of Ashley Bryan – which I cannot wait to show to my nephew when he's a little older – I thought it was "worth it" to invest in this book.

This is a poetry book aimed at kids, hence why Giovanni's language is fairly simple (with a few notable exceptions, e.g. "When I am frayed and stained and drizzled at the end / Please someone cut a square and put me in a quilt") and her message quite straight forward (= you are loved). This book contains eleven poems, some of which could be classified as songs or nursery rhymes, as well as eleven gorgeous illustration by Ashley Bryan.

As an adult, Giovanni's poems don't have that much to offer. They're not particularly clever nor beautifully written, but they're suitable for sitting down with a child and reading it to them. I cannot wait to do that myself in a couple of years (thank God my nephew is being raised bilingually!), and get to experience these poems and illustrations through a child's eye.

I am very passionate about representation and it brings tears to my eyes to know that nowadays so there are many children's books published who represent different marginalised communities. As a child, I didn't own any books that depicted Black people. So to see Bryan's illustrations of Black children being joyful and full of love makes me incredibly happy. Just as reading Giovanni's poems that speak to the very specific experience of being Black – albeit mostly in a US context (like in her wonderful poem "I Am a Mirro" – which is my favorite of the collection btw), I still think that they are empowering and powerful to Black kids everywhere:

I am a mirror

I reflect the grace
Of my mother
The tenacity
Of my grandmother
The patience
Of my grandfather
The sweat
Of my great-grandmother
The hope
Of my great-grandfather
The songs
Of my ancestors
The prayers
Of those on the auction block
The bravery
Of those in the middle passage

I reflect the strengths
Of my people
And for that alone
I am loved

The fun thing about that particular poem is that it is not only accompanied by another of Bryan's gorgeous watercolor illustrations, it also includes a little mirror that is put on top of his illustrations. And, I know I'm an adult an all but if even I am having way too much fun playing with that mirror – looking at myself, peeking around corners with it – I cannot wait to see my nephew's reaction to this page. I can already tell it's going to be a favorite.

So, even though I usually don't read children's literature, let alone children's picture books, I actually cannot wait to explore more of that genre as I am now the cool "book aunt" who will get her nephew the latest craze when it comes to picture books written and illustrated by Black artist. Yup, I will be that bitch.

[Melki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely, but not overly sweet poems aimed at the younger set. Ashley Bryan's vibrant artwork is a perfect compliment.



I'm posting my favorite poem here so I can remember it:

Quilts
(for Sally Sellers)

Like a fading piece of cloth
I am a failure

No longer do I cover tables filled with food and laughter
My seams are frayed my hems falling
My strength no longer able
To hold the hot and cold

I wish for those first days
When just woven I could keep water
From seeping through
Repel stains with the tightness of my weave
Dazzle the sunlight with my
Reflection

I grow old though pleased with my memories
The tasks I can no longer complete
Are balanced by the love of the tasks gone past

I offer no apology only
This plea:

When I am frayed and stained and drizzled at the end
Please someone cut a square and put me in a quilt
That I might keep some child warm

And some old person with no one else to talk to
Will hear my whispers

And cuddle
Near

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is nothing not to love about this joyous collection of poems luminously illustrated by Ashely Bryant.

[Becky · Rating 2 out of 5]

First sentence:

Because
I wrote a poem
for you because
you are
my little boy
I wrote a poem
for you because
you are
my darling daughter
and in this poem
I sang a song
that says
as time goes on
I am you
and you are me
and that's how life
goes on

Premise/plot: I Am Loved is a collection of poems by Nikki Giovanni newly illustrated by Ashley Bryan.

My thoughts: I want to like poetry more than I actually like poetry. I wanted to enjoy this collection. I did. But with the exception of one or two poems, I didn't. The poems I did like were "Quilts" and "Three/Quarters Time."

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. All books are subjective; perhaps poetry is even more so. You may enjoy this collection more than I did. (I hope you do!)

Personally, the lack of punctuation--and the lack of proper capitalization in one case--bothered me way too much. I realize that poetry is ART. There is no one "right" way to do it.

Text: 3 out of 5
Illustrations: 3 out of 5
Total: 6 out of 10

[Marzie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautiful new edition of the Giovanni's classic children's poetry from the 1970's, with illustrations by Ashley Bryant. As any early childhood educator can tell you poetry is a wonderful way to help early readers learn about the feelings that words can evoke. Rhyming and meter can aid a child in recognizing how to anticipate pronunciation, and help with reading fluency. While some critics may be frustrated with the lack of punctuation, Giovanni's simple language resonates with the reader.

[Janet Robles · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nikki Giovanni's I Am Loved is a collection of poems written to empower and promote diverse individuals. This book is filled with beautiful poems accompanied by vibrant illustrations of powerful animals such as a bird and a lion, each with a unique title. I was interested to read all the poems that gave me goosebumps when I read and understood the deeper meaning behind the words. I was amused by the colors and pictures I saw. I was also moved by the powerful people mentioned in one of the poems that mentioned Rosa Parks poem titled, “Do the Rosa Parks”. “Shame the bad, Comfort the good.” A Newbery honoree chose this book for the flourish of color, shape, and movement. This book includes a visual representation that conveys one of the most profound messages to all people, including children, parents, grandparents, and others. That everyone is cherished and loved. One page of the book is a mirror-image where children or adults reading the book can see a reflection of who is most loved, which is themselves. This book can be used to teach children what a poem is and how different poems are written in different styles and themes. This poetry book can inspire many children, including those with different skin tones and physical appearances, to love themselves and recognize that their differences are what make them beautiful. This is why this book is a WOW book because it shares a powerful message that many children can learn from and can help children who are self-conscious about their appearance. This book will assist children in enhancing their beautiful features and feeling confident in their own skin on the inside and out. This book is free of anti-biases because it shares a strong theme of strength and self-love.

[Deb (Readerbuzz) Nance · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nikki Giovanni sings a song of love to the old, the young, the weary, and Ashley Bryan lights up the songs with his brilliantly colored text. I love I Am Loved. I especially love Giovanni's "No Heaven." And you can't miss (you MUST NOT MISS) "Do the Rosa Parks." Wonderful.

[Robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful poems, beautiful illustrations!

[Baylor Heath · Rating 4 out of 5]

“To say someone was loved

We sing a sad blue
Song
We sing a river—no—bridge
Song
We sing a Song of a Blackbird

You will be missed.”

[K2 · Rating 5 out of 5]

5StarChick

[Gordon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Phenomenal poet, Nikki Giovanni, has assembled a lovely collection of eleven poems in, I am Loved, beautifully illustrated by Ashley Bryan. All the poems are magical. Some will need to be read by an adult to a child because their rhythms need a mature understanding to nail the delivery, or have a trick in the associations that an older person will be able to navigate for a listener who is less accomplished with those things. Still, the sense of love in each poem is tangible. Some of my favorites: Because; Quilts; Kidnap Poem; Paula the Cat; and I Am a Mirror.

[Heidi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Like many poetry books, I enjoyed some of these poems more than others and the same is bound to be true for young readers/listeners. I liked the poems about family and heaven and being a mirror of those who came before. But there are a few poems that are so abstract in their comparisons that young children will have a hard time figuring out what they mean. I had a hard time with a couple of them (ex. Paula the Cat, Kidnap Poem). Bryan's illustrations are bright and colorful and gorgeous as his normally are, but may not appeal to all children.

[Kayla · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty good but not really a poetry collection for kids. The illustrations are colorful but the poems are very abstract—I can just see the vacant stares on my first graders’ faces if I tried to read this to them.

[Tonja Drecker · Rating 4 out of 5]

With colorful illustrations, which invite to dream, and beautifully worded poems, this is a book to inspire and bring the warmth of love.

This is a collection of eleven poems, each weaving a lovely description centering on themes from cats to dance to quilts to wild flowers and more, but each of these underlines a feeling of love and warmth. Some of the poems are only a few verses long, while others require the entire two-page spread. The poems paint a picture of things which are familiar but also lead to deeper meaning and thought. While some poems are easy for children in the intended age group to understand, others will require and invite discussion. The range is wide, from simple to more complex. Some poems are better geared for slightly older children over age eight. At times, the level of vocabulary is higher than younger listeners and readers might be accustom to. But there's something for everyone, and each person is sure to find their personal favorite.

The illustrations are a playground of colors, shapes and form. The familiar is molded in with a rainbow of joyful fantasy, while nodding at diversity in one of its most beautiful forms.

This is a lovely collection of poetry, one which is perfect as a read-aloud and offers an open door for discussions. But for all things, there is a constant sense of joy, love and warmth, and a celebration of life in its all of its variety.

I received a complimentary copy and enjoyed it enough to want to leave my honest thoughts.

[Cindy Hudson · Rating 4 out of 5]

The art of an award-winning illustrator melds with the poems of an award-winning author for the picture book I Am Loved.

Ashley Brian’s illustration are colorful, rhythmic, and they stand out as pieces of art in their own right. He chose a dozen Nikki Giovanni poems for this collection, poems that celebrate familial love, friendship, and nature. Here’s an excerpt from the poem, Because.

Because

I wrote a poem

for you because

you are

my little boy



I wrote a poem

for you because

you are

my darling daughter



It’s a sweet sentiment that young children are sure to cherish when a parent reads the words to them.

I Am a Mirror, a poem near the end, encourages the child to look in the mirror on the page and think about the grandparents and ancestors who have come before him, gain strength from their stories, and know that he is loved.

I Am Loved makes a great addition to any child’s bookshelf both as a way to encourage an appreciation for poetry and art, as well as to celebrate the closeness of family relationships.

The publisher provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

[Gabriella Balbo · Rating 4 out of 5]

1.N/A

2. Kindergarten- 2nd Grade

3. A colorful book full of different poems that pertains to a variety of subjects. Focusing on ways that one feels loved through a collection of poems. This book is short, sweet, and engaging book for all especially through its beautiful illustrations.

4. This collection of poems is great for young children who are learning to read introducing them to sight words as well as new vocabulary words. Due to the variety of topics discussed it is easy for teachers to incorporate lessons based on what the poem was about that day. I also enjoyed the colorful unique illustrations that were placed on every other page to help keep the students engaged.

5. Quilt Activity- One of the poems in this book pertains to quilts, after that poem is read, each child could create their own patch with their own poem written on it. After the class completes it the teacher will put all the patches together to create a classroom quilt.

Lesson on poems- Create a lesson based on the structure of a poem introducing poetic terms such as, verse, stanzas, and rhyme scheme.

[Margaret · Rating 5 out of 5]

You know it's true. Twinkling eyes glance in your direction. A shy smile slowly blossoms on a face. A tender touch brushes your hand. Wise words lift your spirit.

These are signs of another heart holding you in affection. You may encounter them every day from family or friends or when seemingly lost and alone, a stranger will send one of them to you. I AM LOVED: a poetry collection (A Caitlyn Dlouhy Book, Atheneum Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing Division, January 9, 2018) with poems written by Nikki Giovanni and illustrations by Ashley Bryan are selections declaring an eternal truth.


My full recommendation: http://librariansquest.blogspot.com/2...

[Ben Truong · Rating 3 out of 5]

I Am Loved is a children's poetry anthology and picture book written by Nikki Giovanni and illustrated by Ashley Bryan. It is a collection eleven poems dedicated to children and the importance for them to be loved.

Giovanni's poems are targeted to children or young readers so the poems are rather straightforward and direct with very little artistic symbolism. There is nothing more important to a child than to feel loved, and this wonderful collection of eleven poems celebrates exactly that. Bryan's illustrations, for the most part, are wonderful and colorful and are reminiscent of African art.

All in all, I Am Loved is a somewhat wonderful collection of poems about children and the importance for them to be loved.

[Jennifer Allen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a beautiful collection of poetry all centered around the idea that the reader is loved. The language in the poems is simple so this book may be a good way to introduce younger readers to poetry. Very few of the poems in this book rhyme so this may also be a good introduction to poetry that does not rhyme. This book contains beautiful, colorful artwork on each page that helps bring the poems to life. One poem at the end of the book has a mirror next to it so that children can see themselves and know that they are loved too. This book is short enough that you could read all the poems during a class period as a read aloud but more likely I would put it in a classroom library for students to explore on their own.

[Angie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this ARC book from the publisher. The opinions in this review are my own.

This collection of poems invoke Ms. Giovanni’s yearning to pass down her thoughts and feelings to the next generation. From the beginning of this collection, she celebrates the desire that children have of being loved by their parents and other adults in their lives. As the collection progresses, Ms. Giovanni celebrates the lives of those that have inspired her and gives us a glimpse of herself and her life.

Mr. Bryan’s art has a childlike quality in the stokes and colors and also displays complexity in the lines and details of each illustration.

[Zach Stp · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although i may not be a huge poetry person this one really caught me. Also, Ive said it once and ill say it again Ashley Bryan DOES NOT MISS! Although Bryan didn't write these poems the illustrations he drew to go along with the incredible 12 poems written by Nikki Giovanni shows children and adults and incredible lesson. You are loved. No matter what happens in your life you are loved and you should never feel any different. There is also a hidden surprise in the story that Ashley Bryan, starting to become one of my favorite's, throws in their to show you who exactly is loved. Read it to find out!

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nikki Giovanni’s brief poems (set in black or white type against colored backgrounds) and Ashley Bryan’s glorious illustrations, rendered in bright colors in tempera and watercolor and featuring black children, their parents, and animals, celebrate love in all its different forms. Some of the poems reflect pride of African-American heritage—“I reflect the strengths / Of my people / And for that alone / I am loved”). Others, such as the final rhythmic verse, encourage play and movement—“. . . do the rosa parks / say no no / do the rosa parks / throw your hands in the air
. . . ” Kindness, compassion, and action ring clear in this joyful picture book.

[Dana · Rating 4 out of 5]

I Am Loved is a delightful book of poetry that will be well enjoyed by readers young and old. The poems are simple yet meaningful and leave readers with many ideas to think about. Each poem is unique and leads readers through a different experience that relates to the common theme of love. These poems help readers understand that love comes in many different forms and can be found in many different places. The vibrant illustrations that appear alongside the poems help readers to feel the immense sense of joy that is conveyed through author Nikki Giovanni’s words. Incorporated into one illustration is a mirror that allows children to reflect and see that they too are loved.

[Alexis Ramirez · Rating 4 out of 5]

The collection of poems really jumps out at me with the images on the pages. The cat from Paula the cat looks well with all the different shades of color mixed onto its body, with the sky being mixed in with the high waves. In particular, A song of a Blackbird is a touching poem to read to a child when explaining to them why all of these monuments are built and why everything sounds sad when someone is missed. It’s because we dedicate big things to people we love, and we sing the sad blues to honor and reminisce about the loved one we spent time with, a touching way along with the other poems to tell a child reading this that they are and will be loved.

[Tasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

This collection of poetry by Giovanni shows the many ways that love shines in our lives. Selected by Ashley Bryan, the poems move from family love to love between friends to more playful poems about dancing or cats. The poems form a cohesive collection, just long enough to work well for young children and not too much to overwhelm. The illustrations by Bryan glow almost like lit stained glass windows with their rich colors and segmented pieces. The entire book has a warmth to it that embraces and enchants. Appropriate for ages 6-9.

[Heidi-Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Looking for some recently published children's poetry to nominate for our Poetry committee. I recognized this author's name. A couple of poems really stood out to me. Some were ok, and a couple I didn't get at all. The illustrations weren't quite my thing. And I think there were a couple of cultural references that I didn't get because they are not my culture. But these are great to help readers learn more of the cultures represented, to help readers of that culture connect to something familiar to them, and overall to celebrate love in many different ways and forms.

[Benjamin Joyce · Rating 1 out of 5]

The illustrations are vibrant and interesting.

As for the poems, they're the type of thing one would throw together during recess 10 minutes before your 9th grade English class homework was due. For example, one particularly lame poem was basically "I admire my grandmother for her tenacity, my grandfather for his patience, my -insert relative- for their -insert adjective-

We originally thought the poems were written by kids and chosen by the author to be published vs actually be written by an adult.

[Mother Goose Librarian]

I am a lover of poetry and art. Put the two together, with poems written by Nikki Giovanni, and art by Ashley Bryan, and you have this beautiful picture book. Of course you can read and savor one poem at a time or you can indulge in reading each poem as a delightful collection of poems that celebrate a love for the family and heritage of African Americans. Bryan’s illustrations are stunning and capture Giovanni’s words and sentiments in a fascinating, eye catching way.I recommend adding I Am Love to your poetry collection.

[Stephanie Tournas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bryan's gorgeous illustrations, as luminous as stained glass, distinguish this short picture book of poems of love. The poetic topics are varied and familiar to a young reader, such as dancing, a cat, family, and the page-sized pictures cannot help but delight. Of special interest to the youngest readers is "I am a Mirror", with an actual mirror on the page. "Do the Rosa Parks" pairs infectious rhythm with a history lesson.

[Jana · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is just a beautiful collection of poetry, with masterful illustrations that are bold, vibrant, and musical, that celebrates all the ways that we are loved: by our parents, by leaves on a rainy day, by wildflowers dancing in the sun, by an old tablecloth remembering all of the good food and laughter...Just in time for Valentines Day, this would be a terrific book to share with those we love and those who need to feel loved!