A boy’s grandmother shows him how to make an origami crane. Then, the boy and that colorful crane become very good friends after that. All of this is told to us by the voice of the Crane. It tells us all the adventures the two of them have in Love Made Me More. Colleen Rowan Kosinski’s story allows us into the mind of a favorite toy. The boy of the story does all sorts of things with the paper Crane and finally starts to outgrow the beloved item. We see how the boys’ interests change (the crane has a picture of a girl placed in front of it and later the dust) and it is not until many years later the crane finds itself in a new place, with a new special friend.
The story is easy, with the bold, bright, and soothing images of Sonia Sanchez. The illustrations are sweet, funny, clever, and expressive. They tell the story in equal amounts to the text. And the illustrations support the adventures we find ourselves in with the child and toy.
Overall, this book (due in mid-late December 2022) is a nice book. Good for older preschoolers to around first grade, early readers who need assistance with reading can do it too. I would gift this book for a new baby (to the child or parents), a teacher who does origami, for a first birthday, or for any child who enjoys sitting and listening to stories.
This book is diverse, relatable and a delight for all libraries (be it personal or school based).