I Am Loved by Nikki Giovanni & Ashley Bryan | Beautiful Blackbird Children's Book Festival

I Am Loved

by Nikki Giovanni
& Illustrated by Ashley Bryan

There is nothing more important to a child than to feel loved, and this gorgeous gathering of poems written by Nikki Giovanni celebrates exactly that. Hand-selected by children’s book legend Ashley Bryan, he has, with his masterful flourish of color, shape, and movement, added a visual layering that drums the most important message of all to young, old, parent, child, grandparent, and friend alike: You are loved. You are loved. You are loved. As a bonus, one page is mirrored, so children reading the book can see exactly who is loved—themselves!

Borrow Buy

Nikki Giovanni

Nikki Giovanni is one of the most decorated poets of our time. She is the recipient of seven NAACP Image Awards, a National Book Award, a Caldecott Honor, a Coretta Scott King Award, and a Grammy nomination. She is the author of three New York Times bestsellers as well as many poetry collections for children and adults.

Ashley Bryan

Ashley Bryan grew up to the sound of his mother singing from morning to night, and he shared the joy of song with children ever since. A beloved illustrator, he was named a Newbery Honoree for his picture book, Freedom Over Me. He has been the recipient of the Coretta Scott King—Virginia Hamilton Lifetime Achievement Award; the Laura Ingalls Wilder Award; has been a May Hill Arbuthnot lecturer; a Coretta Scott King Award winner; and the recipient of countless other awards and recognitions. His books include Freedom Over Me; Sail Away; Beautiful Blackbird; Beat the Story-Drum, Pum Pum; Let It Shine; Ashley Bryan’s Book of Puppets; and What a Wonderful World. He lived in Islesford, one of the Cranberry Isles off the coast of Maine. The Beautiful Blackbird Book Festival was founded in Ashley’s honor.

Watch

As Atiim Boykin performs Nikki Giovanni’s poems, follow the movement of Ashley Bryan’s art reflecting on how you are loved and how you love the Blackness in the community that surrounds you.

I Am Loved – Read Aloud Performance by Atiim Boykin

Make/Do/Learn

Nikki Giovanni writes, “I am a mirror.” Let’s create a self-portrait that reflects back “the strengths of my people.” Celebrate your individuality by creating a vibrant self-portrait that expresses your uniqueness.