I Drew a Heart

by Gillian Sze, Naoko Stoop (Illustrator)

The perfect gift for all of your loved ones, this lyrical, gorgeously illustrated picture book celebrates creativity and a family's love.​ I drew a heart, and another one after... The hearts filled the pages, spilled over the edges, all these hearts that were in no way the same…   A little boy spends the day drawing hearts—wavy hearts, wiggly hearts, wide hearts and tiny hearts, broken hearts and polka-dotted hearts—and each heart a reminder of a favorite dancing, kite flying, first steps, and more. This poignant and lyrical book with vibrant illustrations celebrates a multigenerational family, creativity, and love.

Genres: Picture Books, Love, Childrens, Art

32 pages, Hardcover

Published December 5, 2023

About the author

GILLIAN SZE is the author of Panicle (ECW Press, 2017), Peeling Rambutan (Gaspereau Press, 2014) and Redrafting Winter (BuschekBooks, 2015), which were shortlisted for the QWF A.M. Klein Prize for Poetry. She is also the author of The Anatomy of Clay (ECW Press, 2011) and Fish Bones (DC Books, 2009). More recently, she has started writing for children. Her first two picture books are The Night Is Deep and Wide (Orca, 2021) and My Love for You Is Always (Philomel, 2021). Gillian's work has appeared in a number of national and international journals, and has received awards such as the University of Winnipeg Writers’ Circle Prize and the 3Macs carte blanche Prize. She studied Creative Writing and English Literature and received a Ph.D. in Études anglaises from Université de Montréal. Originally from Winnipeg, she now resides in Montreal.

Reviews

[Alyssa Mandell]

A very cute book about all the different forms of love in a family. The family appears to be of Asian descent.

[Michelle]

A child draws different sizes and shapes of hearts, evoking different memories from his family members. Each heart is his, and they are all different and unique.

A beautifully written and illustrated book to find something new in each time I read it.

[KMitch]

Very sweet story, underlying theme of acceptance & valuing diversity

[Peacegal]

A child learns how his imperfectly-drawn hearts are perfect in their own ways, and relatable to different family members. Sweet, thoughtful book that contains elements both culture-specific and universal. I loved that the family's two cats appeared contentedly looking on in most of the illustrations.

[Beth]

Lovely, poetic, feel-good story

[Patrick Conner]

I Drew a Heart is a lyrical and beautifully illustrated picture book celebrating creativity, family, and love.

Through a little boy's drawings, different hearts become reminders of meaningful moments, from dancing and kite flying to first steps and other cherished memories.

The variety of hearts creates a playful and imaginative way to show that love does not always look the same. Each drawing carries its own feeling and significance.

The book's multigenerational family focus also gives it warmth and emotional depth, making the story meaningful for both children and the adults sharing it with them.

Overall, I Drew a Heart is a tender picture book for families, young readers, and anyone who appreciates stories about creativity, connection, and the many forms of love.

[Jeffrey]

I really like Naoko Stoop's art. I love how she incorporates the wood grain into the sky or the sand of her scenery.

[PottWab Regional Library]

SM

[Sarah Threlkeld]

Sweet idea and beautiful illustrations. The repetition of “a heart like mine” didn’t land right for me and become distracting, though.