I MISS YOU MOST

In rhyming verse, Hoyt’s timely picture book explores the theme of being distanced from loved ones.

The story opens with a young child with blue eyes, pale skin, and brown hair, ball and glove nearby, imagining a loved one with brown skin and curly hair who is far away. “Oh, the fun things we’d do!” the child states, proceeding to imagine all of those fun events. Whether it’s drawing with chalk and singing lullabies or doing something a little more out of the box, like going on a safari or observing dinosaurs, the activities are perfect child suggestions. Hoyt offers both realistic and pretend play options, and the uncredited digital cartoon illustrations feature a wonderfully wide variety of people: same-aged friends play together, grandparents dance with grandchildren, and younger adults pair with children. The pictured loved ones frequently share the same features, but they sometimes don’t, showing that loving someone doesn’t have to be a matter of genetic similarity but can be chosen family. The emphasis on togetherness includes being together apart; one image of a young blond child emphasizes that time can be spent “through visits or letters, video chats, or a phone call.” Hoyt’s rhyming phrases feature a simple vocabulary and scan well throughout. While the poetry is broad enough to encompass families or friends who are separated, the timing of publication during the Covid-19 pandemic makes the words have even greater resonance.

A sweet, inclusive picture book about imagining loved ones together.