The progression of the doves’ lives mirrors what many humans experience as they fall in love, have a family, and enter their later years. The doves’ major milestones also follow the seasons—birth in the spring, maturity in the summer, decline in the fall, and finally death in the winter. This natural order of events will make sense to young readers as they celebrate the birds’ joy and share in their sadness. It will also give adults a chance to talk about the ways their own familial relationships will change. Through it all, the doves repeat a comforting refrain: “She asks him, ‘Lovey Dovey, do you love me?’ He replies, ‘Yes, together forever we’ll be.’”
Wathmi de Zoysa’s sweet illustrations center on the nest, where the family returns to feel safe as the world changes around them. The colors of each season are instantly recognizable—winter is awash in icy blues and grays, while spring and summer favor splashes of color and fall glows with orange and red. At the center of these shifting scenes, the wide-eyed doves perch on a branch, with the mother and father wearing glasses and scarves as they age. Ultimately this tender tale is a testament to the power of enduring affection that lasts a lifetime.
Takeaway: Touching picture book follows a pair of doves through the seasons of their lives.
Comparable Titles: Germano Zullo’s Little Bird, Bryce Adam Brown’s Get On The Stage of Life and Live.
Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: A-
Illustrations: A-
Editing: B+
Marketing copy: A-
