Reviews of Love Me Later

leafBaer holds a lens up to everyday life and helps us see the refractions of its mundane and miraculous beauty. During an ordinary day, Abe observes, wonders, remembers, and asserts both independence from and love for his family. The seemingly random speech of a young child is realistically depicted as Abe flits from one topic to another and back again, but patterns emerge as Abe shows his love of nature and his interest in the past. This slice of life has a little of everything from humor to quiet contemplation, and reminds us just how complex and beautiful any moment can be. The collage art is equally complex, managing to be abstract and extremely realistic at the same time. The characters are real individuals with live, expressive faces. Inclusion of interesting scraps in the collage creates nuances of shadow, and the choice of blurry scraps for background provide a sense of zooming in for a close-up. Meaningful words can be found buried in the collages by observant readers. The changing color of the text is an effective way of indicating who is speaking. Abe's mention of the mezuzah on his house and his awareness of the Hebrew language reveal that he is Jewish. As in Baer's earlier book about Abe's brother, I Only Like What I Like, the child's Jewish identity is integrated into the story as a normal part of his life, but remains a minor aspect of the book. However, Abe's excitement about butterflies and birds and his sorrow when he steps on an ant can be seen as expressions of the Jewish values of tikkun olam (caring for the world) and ba'al taschlit (avoiding needless destruction). The author empowers readers to act on these values by including an endnote suggesting ways to protect monarch butterflies. This is a lovely and meaningful book that will be enjoyed by readers of all ages. Its theme of family connection would best be celebrated by shared readings, and children are sure to ask, like Abe, what they did when they were little. While the Jewish content may be too subtle for educational purposes, the book presents an inspiring portrait of a family whose Judaism is lovingly integrated into daily life. Preschool-Grade 2
Heidi Estrin, Jewish Book World
butterflyA child's excited exclamation, “A butterfly is sitting on my nose!” sets the stage for a story that celebrates the practical magic that happens within families. The narrator is Abe, a boy of about six, who likes to hear his parents' stories about himself when he was “little,” but tells them to “love me later” when it looks like they're about to get lovey-dovey with him. Like most young children, Abe hasn't time for hugs and kisses because he's too busy exploring and discovering the amazing things in the small world of his own house and yard. Told as a series of vignettes, and written mainly as dialogue between Abe and his parents, the narrative is full of the concrete details and humorous conversations that occur in everyday life but it also probes a child's growing perception of the natural world. Julie Baer's illustrations of a world seen through Abe's eyes reflect and expand on Abe's sense of wonder. They are a prominent part of every page and Abe is in virtually every one of them, as a baby, with his older brother, with his mother, watching the cats watch a squirrel through the window, observing a daddy long legs, picking flowers, strolling through his back yard, and recreating in a picture that butterfly who sat on his nose. Cut paper collages and paintings in gouache, with borders of acrylic on rice paper, are the media through which these stunning illustrations were created and in every one, images of butterflies, insects, birds, flowers, trees, and cats are embedded. Readers will want to pour over them again and again because they invite the close observation through which nature itself is revealed to the human eye. The book's format is also outstanding: pages of glossy black that show off the vivid illustrations to perfection, an informal and multi-colored type font, an endnote about monarch butterflies and the organizations that protect them, and floral collage endpapers. Like Julie Baer's first book with Bollix Books, I Only Like What I Like, Abe's family's Jewish identity is revealed incidentally and without comment. With both books, she has moved the picture book form away from a concentration on plot and into a more subjective portrayal of imagination and perception.
Linda R. Silver, Association of Jewish Libraries
Many adults love to hug their children, but they don’t usually consider whether or not the kids want to be hugged at that moment. That’s the problem faced by Abe in Julie Baer’s Love Me Later (Bollix Books, 2005). He is having a wonderful time playing in his backyard, and his mother and father want to hug him again and again. A butterfly lands on Abe’s nose, and he begins to think about different things. He asks his parents what he was like when he was a baby. When they tell him some of their memories, they look as if they want to kiss him. First, he asks his mother whether he wanted to be an astronaut, a deep sea diver or an explorer when he grew up. She answers that he once said he wanted to be an artist, just like she was. When she smiles at him “in a way that looks like she wants to kiss me,” Abe says, “Love me later,” and runs away, kissing the mezuzah as he goes. His mother, who is sitting outside with him drawing, wants to hug him again when she remembers a time when Abe was a baby and he couldn’t stop crying until he started putting on his father’s glasses and then taking them off. Again, when he sees her looking at him as if she wants to hug him, he says, “Love me later, Ma.” His father also wants to hug him when he remembers the cute things Abe used to say when he was a very little boy. Again, Abe makes a face and runs away, saying – yes, you guessed it – “Love me later.” It sounds as if Abe never wants his parents to hug him. But that’s not true. Abe goes into the house, and his father is making supper – Abe’s favourite, rice and beans. His mother comes in and shows them that she has drawn a picture of his butterfly. Then his father “gives Mom a hug. So I wrap my arms around them too.” Why? Because “later is now.” Julie Baer didn’t only write Love Me Later, she drew the pictures too. And the pictures are terrific, full of bright colours, with animals, birds and insects hidden in the flowers and trees. Some of the pictures were originally made by collage (a kind of abstract art where pieces of paper, string, and other found objects are glued to paper) and others, especially the butterflies, were painted in goache on rice paper. It’s normal for adults to feel that they have the right to hug children. It’s just as normal for kids to not want to be hugged, or to be hugged only when they are in the mood. Some even feel that it’s yucky. Just show people this book, and they will realize that when you run away from their hugs or kisses, what you are really saying is “love me later.”
Leila Speisman, The Canadian Jewish News
leafA celebration of both family and the natural world, Julie Baer's second book for Bollix again consists of personal vignettes that are part of a little boy's life. Instead of a plot, there are conversations between family members and impressions of Abe's experiences in the world close at hand - home, his backyard and a park. The illustrations and format capture a child's sense of wonder as he observes butterflies, insects, flowers, trees; the narrative is childlike, warm and humorous. Abe's Jewish identity is discernible only through his comments about a mezuzah on the door and Hebrew prayer. Subjects: FAMILY, NATURE STUDY, Values: AWE, REVERENCE/YIRAH, CARING FOR THE ENVIRONMENT/, FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS/SHALOM BAYIT, LOVING ALL OF GOD'S CREATION/AHAVAT HA-BERIOT
New Jewish Values Finder, Association of Jewish Libraries
Love Me Later is Baer's very sweet book for children describing a young boy who encounters a butterfly on his nose...which then flies away. He is disappointed about this and wants it to come back but it doesn't. He then engages his mother and we learn what he was like when he was younger – what he wanted to be and things he said. Suspecting a hug is forthcoming from her, Abe avoids it by saying "love me later." He doesn’t have time for it right now, but does remember to "kiss the mezuzah." deeper. He later senses the same from his father and responds likewise – "love me later," but ultimately when "Dad…stops and looks at my butterfly and smiles, and then he gives Mom a hug [Abe] wraps [his] arms around them too – because Mom drew [his] butterfly, and because Dad made rice and beans, [his] favorite. And because later is now." Abe is now ready for love. Objective: To teach everyone what love is about, not just children. What does it take for us to be ready for love? Adults especially struggle with this concept and Love Me Later is a great children's book which addresses key concepts in adult life too. Comments: The illustrations in the book are so extraordinary, based on a collage of paper and other found objects – the results of which are incredible. Use: For story time in schools; for parents to read to children; helpful for parents to understand their children becoming independent too. Keywords: STORIES; CHILDREN; MEZUZA; ART Categories: EDUCATION; CULTURE
Emma Sass, DataJem, The Database of Jewish Educational Materials
Love Me Later is an artistic wonderland for adults and children. On first glance it's difficult to tell that the artwork is a collage of paper and other found objects pieced together to create amazing images. Each piece contains cutouts of words that tell a more poetic and subjective story than the text. Baer has painted borders around every picture, and the use of color is stunning. The text of Love Me Later looks like a child's script scrawled with bright and lovely crayons, appropriate because the story is told through a child's voice. The book's narrative is erratic and lacks a dramatic arc, but is instead a series of quick and impulsive snapshots of a boy's mind. This is a small quibble for a book so richly illustrated.
Colleen Finnerty, The Bloomsbury Review
butterfly“Love me later,” a little boy, Abe, tells his parents whenever they are coming in for a hug. Readers, however, should do something immediately: buy this book. Julie Baer has created a beautifully written and illustrated story about a child and his safe and happy child world. A butterfly lands on his nose, and his mother draws a picture of the scene. He kisses the mezuzah. He asks his parents about words he used to make up. He has a yummy dinner of beans and rice and cheese, his favorite. He plays with his cat. And throughout: “Dad is smiling at me in that way! Uh oh! ‘Later, Dad, later,’ I say.” And then “later” finally comes, and Abe decides to ‘wrap my arms around them... because Mom drew my butterfly, and because Dad made rice and beans, my favorite. And because later is now.” Amazing art (all painted by the author) is included – colorful, bright, engaging – along with an adventure masterfully written as though a child really were speaking. An absolute treasure.
Elizabeth Applebaum, Detroit Jewish News
A very different book for 3-8 year olds, it is not a story like others. Here is a different approach to art and writing when you join Abe for a quiet afternoon in his backyard and inside his home. Read about the Monarch butterfly that lands on his nose and comes and goes throughout the story. In this alternative to children's books, perhaps your little one might find a butterfly in his or her own backyard.
Joan Friedman, Shalom Newspaper, Reading, PA
In a stream-of-consciousness narrative, Abe interacts with a butterfly in his backyard, talks to his mother about what he wanted to be when he grew up “when he was little,” kisses the mezuzah on his front door, eats a banana, spies on his cat and the squirrels outside, accidentally steps on an ant, and watches his dad cook dinner. The text rambles and the short vignettes about Abe's made-up Hebrew word “Punkyum,” his Mom's made-up saying “Fredding me,” and an incident with a baby-sitter are like inside family jokes that readers will have difficulty relating to and understanding. As with I Only Like What I Like (Bollix, 2003), Baer's cut-paper collages, using found materials, are intricate and unique. The list of hidden items to find is a nice touch, but the endnote and resources about monarch butterflies seem disconnected from the rest of the book. Some readers may admire and appreciate Love Me Later for its creative and experimental artistic approach, but it is unlikely to appeal to the masses. PreS-Gr 2
Rachel Kamin, School Library Journal, Temple Israel Libraries & Media Center, West Bloomfield, MI
leafIn Love Me Later, Julie Baer has created an art book for children. Though its main purpose is a picture book story about an afternoon in the life of a little boy, it is Baer's unique illustrations that mark the book as extraordinary. They are intricate cut-paper collages with hand-painted details. Most of us are familiar with collage we did in school, usually designs or perhaps a tree or a flower. Baer has used cut-paper like mosaics, creating consistent portraits of Abe, the focus of this book. There is even an elaborate backyard picture with not only flowers but also bricks, clothing patterns, and porch rails. Also, hidden among these illustrations are a number of birds, flowers, butterflies, insects, animals, and objects. Baer lists them in the back of the book so that young readers can explore the pictures more closely and find them like in Where's Waldo? books. The story itself, captured in hand lettering not typeface, in Love Me Later is really a glimpse into an afternoon of play in Abe's backyard. "Love me later" is what he says whenever he thinks his parents want to give him a hug and off he scampers away to explore the wide world around him. There is no lesson to be learned here, no adventure, no storyline, except Abe's joy at being alive. The book is rich with Abe's important memories and observations of his family. His rush toward his parents with reports of what he's discovered and his equally eager escape from them is very typical of young independence that will keep repeating through many life stages. Readers experience Abe's rush around his yard and his moving in and out of his home, touching base with the people and things he loves most. One other unique aspect to Love Me Later is that it is written about a Jewish family. There are few books for children about Jewish life, other than books about Jewish holidays like Hanukkah or Passover. Love Me Later offers readers a glimpse into one afternoon in the life of a Jewish family and shows how Abe has already begun to incorporate some of his family's traditions like touching the mezuzah, a little box containing scripture, on the door sill before he enters his house. I thoroughly enjoyed Love Me Later and look forward to other books by Julie Baer.
Janie Frantz, Myshelf.com
butterflyAbe is a busy and curious little boy, full of energy and questions. Whether he's in the garden chasing a butterfly while his mother paints, or watching his dad cook, little Abe is constantly quizzical, imploring his parents for all the details about his early years. His sweet chatter evokes affection from his mother and father, but Abe is too busy exploring his world, and runs off happily, promising them he'll find time for hugs and kisses later. “Love Me Later” is a beautiful portrait of a brief and precious moment in childhood. The images are talented artwork in themselves, with a unique stylistic quality, letting this book be told as much by the images as by the narrative. The voices of Abe and his parents are so authentic, it is pleasantly obvious this story came from the author's own life. It is the kind of children's book that is purchased for the parent as much as the child, and can be seen as both a reflection of the present time, and of childhoods past. As a plus, the back page gives kids a list of things to find in amongst the pictures, and gives information about butterflies, including where to find even more information. This is Julie Baer's 2nd children's book, having written “I Only Like What I Like” about her eldest son in 2003. She also illustrates “Love Me Later”, and specializes in paintings with natural themes and, obviously, her children. This is simply a lovely children's book, and both, myself and my five-year-old daughter highly recommend it.
Nancy Morris, Allbooks Reviews
Asking your parents about what you did when you were little can be tricky. Every time Abe asks, his Mom and Dad start to get mushy, and he doesn't have time for that … or so he thinks. This is a picture book that recreates every parent's experience with a young child who wants to explore the world and find themselves, all in the same afternoon. Little Kid Reaction: Although our preschooler liked the book, it was never one s/he picked off the shelf independently. With every reading the questions came off the pages and into his/her life. Big Kid Reaction: Reading this book is like living an afternoon with a preschooler: you're entertaining wonderful questions that come from everywhere and nowhere. The illustrations are captivating … and fun to look at even when you're not reading because of their subtleties. With its stream of conscious writing, the story moves fast and parents and kids alike will see themselves (even if the events are different). The illustrations are great, and using color (vs. he said, she said) to denote conversation is most creative.
The Reading Tub
What terrific books! They're absolutely alive. I don't know anybody who can collage children (their faces and expressions) as Julie Baer does.
Marcia Sewall, author-illustrator
Love Me Later is a wonderful book. Lovely execution, rich, lush collages, and a poetic and lyrical text. Wow!
Norah Dooley, storyteller and children's author of Everybody Bakes Bread
After a monarch butterfly lands on Abe's nose, questions of when he was little pop into his head. His mom, dad, and brother tell him funny stories, but when his mom and dad try to get a hug from curious Abe, he runs and says, "Love Me Later!" Children will enjoy the colorful cartoon-like pictures as they search for the numerous hidden insects and words that Julie Baer (author and artist) placed within her paintings, which were made from cut-up recycled magazines. The author has created a fantastic book about growth, self-discover, family, and love. Visit her website: www.juliebaer.com to view her award-winning works of art.
Jennifer LB Leese, Picket News, Hagerstown, MD
Abe is a boy who enjoys life, especially life right in his own backyard. When a butterfly lands on his nose, Abe shouts for his mom to see. But the butterfly flies away and Abe spends an eventful afternoon hoping it will return as he asks his mom and dad questions about when he was little. They tell him great stories, but when he can tell that they're starting to get lovey with him, Abe runs away shouting "Love me later!" A delightful story about the love between parent and child, and the beauty of nature all around us. Search through the pages of this book, and see if you can find all of the delightful illustrations of wildlife. (Ages 4-8)
Christina Lewis, KidsBookshelf.com
Like the fleeting moments one has to admire a butterfly at rest, the hours of childhood rush by and all too soon a young boy is asking questions about when he was “little.” He hasn’t time to cuddle and kiss his parents but he wants to hear all about the things he used to do. Like the butterfly stretching its wings, young Abe flies from moment to moment, escaping the cocoon of babyhood, only to return to be loved as a child often does. Parents will enjoy the symbolism of the book as well as the exquisite artwork. Children will love to hear the stories of Abe’s younger days, his inventive words, his conversations with a babysitter, his favorite foods and traditions practiced, and his interest in watching the cats watch the squirrels. This book will likely spark conversations with parents and turn reading time into “I remember” time. Julie Baer’s wonderful collage illustrations offer more than accompaniment to an engaging text. Throughout the book young readers can hunt for a plethora of creatures including 10 monarch butterflies. When a butterfly lands on Abe’s nose, it is a moment of pure joy and the start of journey that children will take with their parent, or on their own, time and time again.
Heather Froeschl, Bookideas.com
leafJulie Baer’s Love Me Later reflects one of the reasons that I send my children to Jewish day school – Judaism is interwoven into modern life effortlessly and seamlessly. The story follows Abe as he plays outside (a monarch butterfly lands on his nose). His father makes dinner. His mother is sitting on the grass drawing. And as Abe explores the natural world, he asks his parents questions about his baby self, and avoids their kisses. This is not a Jewish story but it’s all Jewish: he kisses the mezuzah as he enters the house, noting that his home is a special place; his parents recall when he made up the work “punkyum” and claimed it was Hebrew. Baer’s unique and intricate illustrations, made from cut-up magazines, hold hidden creatures and words that children will love to explore.
Elana Kahn-Oren, Wisconsin Jewish Chronicle
I explored with pleasure the lush, detailed collages that grace every colorful page of "Love me Later." This volume can be enjoyed by all ages, from tiny kids to adults. The simple story speaks volumes about family and life, and the exquisite art transports the viewer to a magical place. This is a wonderful companion volume to Julie Baer's first book, "I only like what I like."
Caren Loebel-Fried, author-illustrator of Hawaiian Legends of the Guardian Spirits.
A little boy named Abe is talking to his mom and dad about when he was a baby. He wants to hear stories about what he did and his first words. They tell him all kinds of funny tales, but when Abe notices that look on their face, which means hugs and kisses, he yells, "Love me later!" and runs off. Julie Baer presents us with a unique type of book. Her fantastic artwork depicts nature and people in a special way. Abe, the cute little narrator, takes us on a journey through his childhood and the present.
Bookreviewcafe.com

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