Review: Love, Z by Jessie Sims

LOVE, Z

by Jessie Sims

Simon & Schuster

Picture Books

48 pages

From the creator of Not Quite Narwhal comes the story of a young robot trying to find the meaning of “love.”

When a small robot named Z discovers a message in a bottle signed “Love, Beatrice,” they decide to find out what “love” means. Unable to get an answer from the other robots, they leave to embark on an adventure that will lead them to Beatrice—and back home again, where love was hiding all along.

MY TIDBITS

Love and good feelings abound on every single page of this wonderfully cute and simply adorable read.

Z is a little robot, who lives with other robots who take care of it. One day, Z discovers a message in a bottle with only two words: Love, Beatrice. But what is love? Z asks his fellow robots, but they have no idea. So, Z decides to venture out into the world and find Beatrice in hopes she can explain the strange word. As the journey goes on, Z crosses paths with various people, none are Beatrice but each tries to explain what love means. However, their answers don't compute. It appears that Z will never learn the true meaning behind the strange word 'love', but then, something surprising happens.

The first pages had me wondering how this read would really be. The robots, especially Z, are kind and likable, but their metal and simple exterior comes across a bit cool. And this is perfect! As the story continues, Z's wondrous journey warms more and more with every person he meets. By the end, the at first cold exteriors, leave a super warm and cuddly feeling. In other words, it builds right with the story and ends in the way it should. Kudos just for that.

The meaning of this book is clear, and it is a message kids can never ever get enough of. It makes them consider what they might tell Z if the cute robot stopped and asked them to define love. The various answer make it clear how wonderful and the various ways in which love in shown. Throw in a cute little adventure as Z sails down the small stream to places the robot's never been before...and the slight tension which builds by the end when it doesn't appear the goal will be found...and it's an exciting read, which holds the attention until the last page. In other words, this book has everything a good story needs.

The illustrations are gentle, warm, encouraging, bright and allow the good feelings to flow. Each adventure gains more depth through the illustrations, and they carry just the right amount of details to invite readers to flip through them on their own. Especially Z...for all of it's simpleness... is as adorable as can be.

I highly recommend this book and believe hugs and cuddles will be expected at the end.

And here she is...

Jessie Sima is an author/illustrator living and working in New York City. She grew up in a small town in Southern New Jersey, unaware that she was a storyteller. Once she figured it out, she told her family and friends. They took it quite well. She is the author of Not Quite NArwhal, Harriet Gets Carried Away, and Love, Z. You can visit her at JessieSima.com.