Love, Violet

Charlotte Sullivan Wild
Illustrated by Charlene Chua
Farrar, Straus and Giroux, January 4, 2022
ISBN 9780374313722 | 40 Pages, Ages 4-8
 ♥  Stonewall Book Award
 ♥  NCTE Charlotte Huck Honor
 ♥  Lambda Literary Award Finalist
 ♥  Bookstagang’s Best of 2022 Winner: Future Classics, Community Favorite


Only ONE person makes Violet’s heart skip!
Of all the kids in Violet’s class, only one leaves Violet speechless: Mira, the girl with the cheery laugh, who races like the wind. If only they could adventure together! But every time Mira comes near, Violet goes shy. As Valentine’s Day approaches, Violet is determined to show Mira just how special she is.

Charlene Chua’s luminous watercolors bring to life this tender #LGBTQ+ picture book about friendship, love, and the courage it takes to share your heart–even when it’s pounding!

♥ DEAR READERS! A Letter from the Author of LOVE, VIOLET
♥ LOVE, VIOLET | Packet (3 Activities)
♥ LOVE, VIOLET | Trailer (1:00)
♥ LOVE, VIOLET | Author Story Time (7:22)
LOVE, VIOLET | A Valentine for You (7:27) – with Charlene Chua & friends
♥ LOVE, VIOLET | Author & Illustrator Presentation (22:17) and with Story Time (28:34)
♥ 2023 STONEWALL SPEECHES | Excerpts (3:45) – with C. Chua
♥ 2023 STONEWALL SPEECHES | Full (6:56) – with C. Chua

 

 

Reviews

STARRED REVIEW

The book’s text is action-packed and heartfelt, […] and the watercolor illustrations are suffused with emotion, detail, and movement. The gentle, child-friendly romance at the heart of the story is a perfect celebration of courage and queerness, and earnest, awkward Violet is a protagonist every reader will root for. […] A sweetly empathetic, child-friendly girl-girl romance.

Kirkus Reviews

STARRED REVIEW

Valentine’s Day brings a shy child named Violet the chance to connect with her crush, Mira, in Sullivan Wild’s uplifting wintry tale. […]  a race through the snow—choreographically captured with dancelike grace in Chua’s simple, light-filled watercolors—brings the duo together at last, making the holiday one of joyful acceptance. Ages 4–8.

~ Publisher’s Weekly, Featured Reviews

“This sensitive picture book about first friendship and first crushes, […] offer[s] opportunities for conversation around social-emotional learning [. …] and sends a reassuring message about being true to one’s feelings. […]  VERDICT: This book fills an important need for non-heteronormative representation in picture book collections

~ School Library Journal, Amy Fellows

“The sensitive third-person narrative details Violet’s thoughts and emotions throughout the story and reveals Mira’s in the happy ending. […] the illustrations glow with warm, delicate colors […]. An appealing picture book for reading aloud, particularly in the weeks leading up to Valentine’s Day.

~ Booklist

I absolutely love this book. Wild’s evocative yet spare prose captures Violet’s swirling, whirling feelings towards Mira and her hesitation about Mira’s possible reaction. Chua’s watercolors add further depth and dynamism to the tale. Mostly, though, the story allows these queer children to have what they deserve: happiness, with no one criticizing or questioning their relationship.

~ Mombian: Sustenance for Lesbian Moms
Love, Violet Is the Two-Girl, First-Crush Picture Book We’ve Been Waiting For” 4 Jan. 2022

[My daughter] has already picked her favorite book of the year — Love, Violet — which means we are […] making valentines […] in late November […]. [S]uch a charming book and the first picture book featuring an F/F crush! […] It is completely enchanting and […] Charlene Chua’s illustrations are just as sweet and endearing as the story. This is a must-read!”

~ Margaret Kingsbury, Book Riot
“15 Must-Read January Children’s Book Releases,” 5 Jan. 2022

This heartwarming story will be relatable to ANYONE who recalls the feeling of crushing hard on someone in elementary school […]. But I think it’ll be especially meaningful for all you girls who loved girls. And boys who loved boys. And anyone happy to see more (and younger) LGBTQ representation – which should be all of us. This is… just a wonderfully relatable book about being in love.

Alison Morris, Senior Director of Title Selection, First Book

(Mira joyfully holds up a glittering piece of a valentine. With soft sunset colors behind her, Mira smiles with brown, flushed skin, thick curly dark hair and a violet cap and jacket.)

Activities!

Free Activity Sheets:

For Educators:

Videos & Presentations:

Kids Respond!

More Great LGBTQIA+ Books!

Love, Violet: OUT in the world!

VIDEO: 2023 STONEWALL SPEECHES (6:56)
With Charlene Chua, American Library Association, June 2023 (Short version 3:45)

BLOG AUTHOR INTERVIEW
Jenny Pease, #ChatWithThePBLady, 24 July 2022

BLOG AUHTOR INTERVIEW
Reads Rainbow, Charlotte (@pointofhopes), 11 July 2022

GEEKS OUT INTERVIEW
“Love, Violet Interview w/ C. S. Wild & Charlene Chua”
GeeksOUT, Michele Kirichanskaya, 11 Mar. 2022

MEET THE AUTHOR
“Interview with Charlotte Sullivan Wild, Author of Love, Violet”
Pride and Less Prejudice, 14 Feb. 2022

GUEST BLOG POST
“On Creating Love (When Work Isn’t Enough)”
Cynsations, Cynthia Leitich Smith, 10 Feb. 2022

BLOG AUTHOR INTERVIEW
“Warm Hearts & a Giveaway”
Picture Book Builders Blog, Kim Norman, 4 Jan. 2022

BLOG AUTHOR INTERVIEW
Rebecca Crunden, 5 Dec. 2021

BLOG FEATURE
“No More Ghosts! A (Queer) Picture Book Love Story”
We Need Diverse Books Blog, 16 Nov. 2021

BLOG AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT
Host Helen Ishmurzin, 9 Nov. 2021

BLOG JOINT INTERVIEW | VIDEO PREMIER!
With illustrator Charlene Chua
Math is Everywhere Blog, Kaitlyn Sanchez, 6 Nov. 2021

RADIO INTERVIEW (33:24)
“Charlotte Sullivan on Writing to Music”
Music with Minnesotans, host Steve Staruch
MN Public Radio Classical, 10 Feb. 2014

Love for Love, Violet!

♥  Stonewall Book Award
 NCTE Charlotte Huck Honor
 Lambda Literary Award Finalist
  Bookstagang Best of 2022: Future Classics, Community Favorite

  Kirkus Star
 Publisher’s Weekly Star

  TheKidLitMama: 22 Picture Book Favorites of 2022
  Reading with Red and the Magpie’s Best of 2022 Fiction
  Mombian: 2 Dozen of 2022’s Best LGBTQ-Inclusive Picture Books
♥  Megan Reid @ihaveabook4that: 22 Best Picture Books of 2022
  Selected for Pride and Less Prejudice Book Bundles 2021-23