I'll Take Care of You

by Maria Loretta Giraldo, Nicoletta Bertelle (Illustrator), Johanna McCalmont (Translator)

A tiny seed finds itself lost in the world, but with care from the Sky, Earth, and Sun, it grows up to be a beautiful apple tree.

When the tree meets a bird in need of help, it offers its branches as shelter and shows little readers the magic of being cared for and taking care.

This comforting tale celebrates the harmonious relationship between birds and trees and can help little readers appreciate the care they receive from their family and friends every day. In return, children will learn that they can also care for others and cultivate empathy and kindness.

With warm, colorful illustrations and a timely message of care and community, I’ll Take Care of You offers a soothing story before bedtime, or anytime on tough days.

Genres: Picture Books, Nature, Animals, Childrens, Environment, Juvenile, Fiction

32 pages, Hardcover

Published April 12, 2022

About the author

Maria is a celebrated children’s author who lives and works along the Brenta Riviera in Verona, Italy. Her children’s books have been translated and published all over the world. She is a long-term artistic partner of Nicoletta Bertelle.

Reviews

[Patrizia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Di questo albo ho letto la versione italiana.
La storia è molto bella e le illustrazioni che la accompagnano sono coloratissime.
Sicuramente piacerà molto ai bambini.
Suggerito.

[Catalin Dinu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Text și imagini superbe.
Pentru copii foarte mici (+3), mici, dar și pentru restul cititorilor, de vârste oricât de mari.

Lucrurile se leagă frumos pe lume, unele având grijă de altele. Nimic nu e lăsat la voia întâmplării.

(tradusă în limba română sub titlul "Voi avea grijă de tine" (Pandora Publishing, 2022))

[maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a cute picture book with vibrants colors. The title in itself is full of warmth. As an adult who wished to have more emotional validation as a child, I loved how this book emphasizes on the power of nurturance and the beautiful things that come out of taking care of someone.

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love the art. Love the cyclical story. Love the message of taking care of each other.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really liked the illustrations, and especially the use of color. The story was totally fine!

[The Voracious Bibliophile · Rating 5 out of 5]

***Note: I received a free digital review copy of this book from NetGalley and Blue Dot Kids Press in exchange for an honest review.***

This beautiful picture book introduces children to the interconnectedness of nature with a single refrain repeated throughout: “I’ll take care of you.” So says the Earth, the Water, and the Sky to the scared little seed that grows into a strong apple tree. So says the selfsame tree to the blackcap bird who takes shelter in its branches. So says the blackcap bird to her tender hatchling, whom she loves, nourishes, and teaches to fly. So says the blackcap bird to the seed that falls among stones once the apple tree sheds its blossoms and its fruit. The little bird watches over the seed which she entrusts to the Earth’s tender care. She sings to it and hopes for it until one day, a shoot breaks forth and the cycle begins once again.

Thus the gift of care is shared and magnified among all of nature and her children in I’ll Take Care of You, and I can’t imagine anyone not enjoying this simple yet powerful tale. Nicoletta Bertelle’s warm and vibrant illustrations reinforce the themes of community and ecological harmony found in Maria Loretta Giraldo’s text, gorgeously translated from the Italian by Johanna McCalmont. I’ll Take Care of You is ideal for daycare, preschool, and local Story Time groups, who can reinforce the concepts introduced in the book by performing acts of care for one another and others in their community.

I’ll Take Care of You is due to be published by Blue Dot Kids Press on April 12th, 2022 and is now available to preorder wherever books are sold.

***Note: This review appears in slightly different form on my blog The Voracious Bibliophile at https://thevoraciousbibliophile.com/2...***

[Πάνος Τουρλής · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ένας μικροσκοπικός σπόρος κάποτε ένιωθε χαμένος μέσα στον απέραντο κόσμο. Η Γη τον φρόντισε τυλίγοντάς τον με το μαλακό της χώμα, το Νερό τον πότισε με σταγόνες, ο Ουρανός τον ζέστανε με τον ήλιο κι έτσι ο σπόρος ένιωσε ασφαλής, μεγάλωσε κι έγινε δέντρο. Με τη σειρά του λοιπόν ανταπέδωσε την καλοσύνη που βίωσε φροντίζοντας ανάμεσα στα κλαριά του ένα πουλάκι που έφτιαξε φωλίτσα. Κι ο κύκλος της καλοσύνης συνεχίζεται με τους ήρωες του παραμυθιού να βοηθάνε ο ένας τον άλλον με τρυφερό και συγκινητικό τρόπο.

Είναι μια υπέροχη ιστορία για την καλοσύνη και τη δοτικότητα με ήρωες διάφορα φυσικά και έμβια στοιχεία του περιβάλλοντος, κάτι που βοηθάει τα μικρά παιδιά να κατανοήσουν επίσης το πώς μεγαλώνουν και αναπτύσσονται τα φυτά και σε τι βοηθάνε τα φυσικά στοιχεία ώστε ο σπόρος να γίνει δέντρο και καρπός. Η καλοσύνη και η φροντίδα είναι απαραίτητα για τη ζωή μας και για την ψυχική μας υγεία κι ο συγγραφέας φροντίζει να το τονίσει μέσα από απλά, καθημερινά παραδείγματα που θα συναρπάσουν τα μικρά παιδιά.

Η εικονογράφηση της Nicoletta Bertelle είναι λιτή, με μεγάλες λεπτομέρειες και με πλούσια χρώματα. Αποτυπώνει το δέντρο, το πουλί, τους καρπούς, την ίδια τη φύση με τέτοιο τρόπο που πυροδοτεί τη φαντασία των μικρών παιδιών και τα βοηθάει να δουν με τα ίδια τους τα μάτια πώς ο σπόρος γίνεται δέντρο. Μια γλυκιά και τρυφερή ιστορία που μυρίζει αγκαλιά και δοτικότητα.

Πρώτη δημοσίευση στο site μου: https://www.vivliokritikes.com/%ce%bb...

[Storywraps · Rating 5 out of 5]

This heartwarming story with its beautiful illustrations and the refrain "I'll take care of you" will resonate with children long after the book is closed. It introduces the wonderment of the cycles of nature and how kindness and nurturing keeps that cycle on going year after year.

An insignificant little seed has lost its way and becomes very significant to the Sky, Earth, and Sun. They lovingly adopt it and care for it until it grows into an amazing apple tree. A lost and lonely blackcap bird needs refuge and the tree reaches out and invites her to build her nest in its branches. One day she lays an egg and sits on it patiently until a tiny chick hatches. She keeps it warm and safe and teaches it how to sing and fly. The author goes on to tell of the apple tree losing all its apples and seeds. The wind picks up the seeds and scatters them where the Earth, Sky and Water can take care of them. All the seeds but one have found a nurturing home. What will happen to that one seed that fell among the rocks? Will it be rescued and cared for too?

"I'll Take Care of You" highlights the astounding ecosystem as it quietly sustains the rhythm of nature. Children will awaken to the fact that they are cared for and loved by their own families and friends and the love that they receive can be passed on to others around them too. The book highlights the themes of empathy, kindness and community.

I love the quiet, gentle, educational vibe of the book. It is perfect for a bedtime story. I highly recommend it.

[Stephanie Tournas · Rating 5 out of 5]

This enchanting picture book illustrates the interdependence of nature and animals. A seed lands on the ground, “lost and lonely.” Earth takes care of it; Water takes care of it; Sky takes care of it, and it grows into an apple tree. A bird builds a nest in the tree, and then a baby chick hatches, grows up and flies away. When an apple falls from the tree, its seeds are scattered and are in turn cared for by Earth, Sky and Water. One seed is lost on rocky terrain, but then the bird, now grown, picks it up and drops it onto the earth. The bird waits…”until one day she saw a tiny shoot appear.”

The lovely art, made with acrylic paint and collage, with sgraffito elements, uses vivid natural colors and simple shapes to animate the characters of Earth, Water, Sky and birds. Gentle, almost poetic language, tells the story. I love how the art and text work together to show the interdependence of forces in nature and how animals have a part in seed cultivation. It’s like nature is itself a caring community. The larger size format will lend itself nicely to reading to a group.

[Crystal Palmisano-Dillard · Rating 4 out of 5]

A simple, but moving story about the cycle of caring.

A lonely seed is taken care of by the earth, water and sun so that it grows into a big strong tree. The tree in turn offers protection to a bird who can safely next in it's branches and care for her chick. When the tree's apples fall, one seed does not land in the safe soil, but the bird the tree protecting returns the favor by carrying the seed to fertile land and sings to the seedling about it's great future.

Kindness is contagious.

The illustrations are bright and eye catching.

[Theediscerning · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was quite a lovely, and very measured, look at a sort of pay-it-forward kindness. The elements in turn look after a seed, until it can become a tree – who in turn vows to look after a bird, who in turn... A pleasingly cyclical plot, a world where good is done for the sake of good and others, never for the person doing it, and a style that uses collage to make something distinctive but not too different – this has many qualities. A strong four stars.

[Cheyenne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a digital copy of this book on NetGalley in advance in exchange for my honest review. This book has gorgeous illustrations. The story of the Earth, Sky, and Sun caring for the tiny seed, who grew into a tree that took care of a bird and her baby, who in turn took care of one of the trees seeds is a beautiful story of the connection between plants and animals. It would be a great addition to any library.

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an electronic ARC from Blue Dot Kids Press through Edelweiss+.
Sweet story of nurturing as readers watch the earth, sky and water protect a seed so it grew into a tree. We then see a bird shelter there and build her nest. The circle completes when the bird rescues a seed and moves it from the rocks to good soil to be nurtured and grow.
Lovely illustrations complete this story.

[Nita Ankrom · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a sweet story about the interconnectedness of life. It also works the life cycle of plants and birds. The bright illustrations and ways that words are put on the pages are the perfect compliment to the story.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for an advance copy.

This book is gorgeous! The text is so simple, but the effect is sophisticated. This book will be perfect in my Catholic Montessori school library. It not only captures the science of life cycles, but it also emphasizes care and love of the Earth.

[Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gorgeous, vibrant art accompanies this beautiful book's depiction of nature on earth: it works and tandem and takes care of each other. From the elements to a seed, a tree to a bird, over and again, with care and assurance we thrive.

[Jess · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this arc in exchange for my honest review.

This book had a sweet message about taking care of what you can but the message was entertained with nurturing a seed and helping it sprout and grow. Pretty illustrations!

[June · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rounded up for the beautiful illustrations. A little seed taken care of by the earth, water and sky grows into a tree. The tree offers to take care of a bird and then the bird saves one of the tree's seeds.

[Andréa]

Note: I accessed a digital review copy of this book through Edelweiss.

[Alisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful, child-friendly, accessible story of the lifecycle of a seed/tree. Gorgeous simple illustrations with vibrant colors.

[Sophia M. Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful story and repetition with amazing illustrations. I loved reading this to my kids and they were very interested in the story!

[Tara · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautifully illustrated introduction to the cycle of caring and how one kind act can grow. Great for little kids.

I received an advanced reader from Net Galley

[Wanda ❣️ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a sweet little book

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's the story about a seed that's protected by nature until he grows in a strong and beautiful plant. Perfect to show children the cycle of life in nature.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Nessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Adorable picture book about a seed being taken care of by earth, wind, and rain, and even a bird! Gorgeous illustrations.

[Clementine]

really interesting illustrations and a lovely message of nurturing.

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a gorgeously illustrated book with a lovely message that also sneaks in a bit of science. A perfect trio!

[Cecilia Bartolini · Rating 4 out of 5]

Albo illustrato semplice e coloratissimo

[Viviane Elbee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gorgeous book with the plant cycle of life and a good friendship that forms between a tree and a bird.