People Are My Favorite Places

by Ani Castillo

Overview

In this bright and heartwarming book, Ani Castillo reminds us that even when we can’t visit or see our favorite people, they will always be a part of our lives. 
When a young girl isn’t able to leave her home, she reflects on what she misses. Is it going to the beach or visiting a city? Seeing a movie or going out to dinner? No! It’s not the places she misses, it’s the landscape inside the people she loves. In this heartfelt and joyful ode to caring, community and connection, a young girl learns what matters most.
With Ani Castillo's uplifting text and vibrant illustrations, this charming picture book about what makes your favorite places really special will be cherished for years to come.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780316424660
Publisher:	Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Publication date:	01/09/2024
Pages:	40
Product dimensions:	10.30(w) x 10.40(h) x (d)
Age Range:	4 - 9 Years

About the Author

Ani Castillo was born and raised in Guadalajara, Mexico, where she studied communications, art, and digital media. She is the author and illustrator of Ping and Spark and her art has been exhibited in Mexico, Canada, and the United States, and her popular cartoon, Pupa & Lavinia, ran for ten years in Mexican newspapers. Ani now lives with her two young daughters in Toronto, Canada.
 

Editorial Reviews

"...A delightful tale that will help little ones cultivate gratitude. Quirky illustrations and charming narrative make for an endearing read."—Kirkus Review

From the Publisher

2023-10-21
A child examines the joy of other people.

Staring off into the distance, the young narrator informs us, “It wasn’t until I was stuck in my room, all alone, forever and ever” that “I realized one breathtaking thing: PEOPLE ARE MY FAVORITE PLACES.” (Why the child was so isolated is not explicitly stated, though it appears to be a reference to pandemic lockdown.) The child tells us, “I always thought I loved going to my grandparents’ house,” but it isn’t their home that’s so special—it’s the “kind, loving humans who welcome me there.” Yes, the child misses buildings, the ocean, and the mountains, but not as much as the “sweet, lovely people who were once there with me, holding my hand.” Explorations of sensory details include the smell of a baby or the textures of people’s hair. And the protagonist doesn’t miss movies as much as hearing the laughter of fellow audience members. Expressing gratitude for technology and memories, the child hopes to “never forget” that it’s being with “someone whom I love very dearly” that matters most. In the manga-esque illustrations, vivid colors roughly bleed together effectively as a doe-eyed child with body-length black hair, a light complexion, and round cherry cheeks watches snow falling, enjoys music, and has a sleepover. The result is a delightful tale that will help little ones cultivate gratitude.

Quirky illustrations and charming narrative make for an endearing read. (Picture book. 5-8)

Kirkus Reviews