Sometimes Love

illustrated by Joy Hwang Ruiz
Penguin Young Readers/Dial
July 12, 2022
​ISBN: 9780593323823
A tender, poetic picture book about a military family experiencing happiness, heartache, and learning to grow through change

“Changes come and changes go. Love through changes makes love grow.”
 
When her mother is deployed overseas, a young girl is temporarily parted from her beloved dog. Told in spare yet lyrical verse, this picture book shares a powerful message about the different ways we show love, from giving, to growing together, to sometimes letting go.

​But don’t worry, this pet story has a happy ending.

Praise for Sometimes Love...


**Named one of the "Best Children's Books of the Year"**
-Bank Street College of Education 2023

“[A] wonderful book about love, loss, and reunion . . .Teaching children how to live with loss is an important lesson, and this offering accomplishes this task exceptionally well."
-Booklist, starred review

“[Sometimes Love] eloquently conveys a wide range of emotions... illustrations that seem to shimmer off the page...An important lesson for young readers conveyed poetically with lots of heart."
-Kirkus Review

“An excellent title for any child who has to be away from a beloved pet for an extended period, or to use to build empathy for situations a child might not be experiencing."
-YA Books Central


NEWS, APPEARANCES, AND EVENTS:
​

November - January 2022: I'm thrilled for Joy Hwang Ruiz, whose breathtaking, beautiful, stunning art from SOMETIMES LOVE is selected to be featured in the Society Of Illustrators 2022 Original Art exhibition this fall in NYC! An esteemed jury selected her art as among the best in children's book illustration from this year. What an honor! The show will be on exhibit October through January!
August 2022: SOMETIMES LOVE receives a beautiful feature on Anitra Rowe Schulte's Kidlit Spotlight Blog
July 2022: SOMETIMES LOVE is featured on Bookriot's "12 Must-Read July Children's Book Releases"
July 23, 2022: Join me, illustrator of Sometimes Love, Joy Hwang Ruiz, and author-illustrators Juana Medina, and Faith Pray, for this virtual Picture Book Panel at Books of Wonder! This panel is a joyful and heartwarming celebration of big growth in your littlest readers! (Books available for purchase with signed bookplates)
Catch the event replay here!

FUN & FREE Activities