I'LL TAKE CARE OF YOU

An Italian import, translated by McCalmont, explores nature’s beneficence.

The highly understated but impactful opening spread shows a little seed—just a black teardrop shape in vast white space—on the recto, while the text on the verso reads “once / there was / a tiny seed. / So small in the / great, big world, / it felt lost and / lonely.” Readers will undoubtedly be curious to discover the fate of this vulnerable little pip. Never fear: The generous Earth provides it with soil; the rain waters it; the sun shines on it. As they do so, they each reassure the seed: “Don’t be afraid. I’ll take care of you.” The seed grows into an apple tree that invites a “lost and lonely” bird to nest in its branches. The seasons go by, and soon there is just one apple left on the tree. When it falls to the ground and splits open, its seeds are “cared for by the Earth, the Sky, and the Water,” except for one stray seed, which is swept onto barren rocks. Will it be saved? This cyclical story is gentle—no real dramatic twists—and serves as a timely reminder of the importance of caring for the vulnerable and less fortunate. With each narrative development, the refrain “I’ll take care of you” is repeated. The acrylic paint and collage illustrations—all double-page spreads full of saturated primary colors—are uplifting with motifs that underscore the interconnectedness of nature. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

A gentle, soothing, timely story to inspire compassion and kindness.