Love is a Ball

Love is a Ball is the third love metaphor board book produced by the team of Novesky and Gillingham with the first two being Love is a Tutu and Love is a Truck. Since all three conclude with a child’s going to sleep, these board books are likely intended to be used as calming bedtime reading. A ball is often one of a child’s first toys, and, using a mixture of rhyming couplets and free verse, Novesky introduces her young readers/listeners to a variety of ball types, some of which, such as a beach ball or just a generic ball, may fall within children’s previous life experiences. However, many (perhaps too many) will more recognizable to the book’s adult reading facilitator, with examples including “a score of love-love”, a pinball machine and billiard balls. Occasionally, Novesky’s word choices are too sport specific, with an example being, “A swish. / A slam dunk.”

Gillingham’s uncluttered cartoon-style illustrations, which appear on backgrounds of various colours, are gender and racially inclusive (and even include right and left handedness) and will appeal to the intended audience. Her illustrations work best when she is representing something concrete, like a bubble or the moon, but falter somewhat when Gillingham’s text presents a concept. For instance, when the text reads, “Love is a kid/who plays with every one.”, the accompanying illustration simply consists of five balls of various types and sizes flying through the air.

Possibly a home purchase, Love is a Ball can likely be overlooked by public libraries serving a preschool audience.