Love and the Rocking Chair - (Hardcover)

About the Book

Before the baby arrives a couple orders a rocking chair, and as the family grows and changes, the rocking chair is always there, a center of love and continuity.

Book Synopsis

Two-time Caldecott Medalists Leo and Diane Dillon celebrate the love we feel for our children in this touching, multi-generational story about the lasting power of family.

Simple words and colorful paintings tell the warm, engaging story of new parents who buy a rocking chair when they are expecting a baby. Bright, sunny illustrations show the precious intimacy between parents and their children; the new mother glows with affection, and the new father reads aloud to their young son. Time passes, and the boy grows up; the beloved rocker is moved to the attic and gathers dust. But when the boy becomes a man, the cycle begins anew. He and his wife have a baby girl, and the rocking chair is needed again. Legendary artists Leo and Diane Dillon are two of the greatest illustrators of our time. This is their final collaboration, inspired by their own rocking chair. It is a tender tribute to the enduring power of family love-passed from generation to generation. Here is a book for all ages to cherish. It serves as a loving reminder of those who have gone before us-and those who are still to come.

Review Quotes

Praise for Ashanti to Zulu: African TraditionsA Caldecott Medal Winner"These are sophisticated illustrations, the colors rich yet subdued, the drawing stylized and subtle.... Ashanti to Zulu is an exotic book for those ready to look beyond the familiar."-The New York TimesPraise for Why Mosquitos Buzz in People's Ears: A West African Tale(written by Verna Aardema)A Caldecott Medal Winner*"Mosquito tells a story that causes a jungle disaster. Elegance has become the Dillons' hallmark.... Matching the art is Aardema's uniquely onomatopoeic text.... An impressive showpiece."-Booklist, starred reviewPraise for Aida (retold by Leontyne Price)A Coretta Scott King Book Award WinnerAn ALA Notable Children's Book"[The paintings] form a stunning, unified whole... lavishly packaged and strikingly designed."-Publisher's WeeklyPraise for Rap A Tap Tap: Here's Bojangles-Think of That!A Coretta Scott King Book Award WinnerA Bank Street College Best Children's Book of the YearA Parents' Choice Award Winner"A book about tap dancing's greatest, Bill "Bojangles" Robinson, ought to be just as rhythmic as this one."-Chicago Tribune*"This jazzy introduction to an important contributor to American culture will entrance the youngest music and dance fans."-Kirkus Reviews, starred reviewPraise for If Kids Ran the World*"The spreads balance the lively activity of a parade with the rhythm and poise of classic tapestry. With these images of joyousness and boundless energy, the Dillons affirm and call forth the special gifts children have to give."-Publisher's Weekly, starred review

About the Author

Leo & Diane Dillon are two of the most acclaimed illustrators of our time. They collaborated for more than five decades. Their long list of awards includes two Caldecott Medals, the NAACP Image Award, five Coretta Scott King Awards and Honors, four Boston Globe-Horn Book Awards, and induction into the Society of Illustrators Hall of Fame. Leo and Diane created award-winning picture books, book covers, magazines, and other art until Leo's death in 2012. Love and the Rocking Chair is their final collaboration. Diane Dillon lives in Brooklyn, New York.