Love Is Here with You - by Jyoti Rajan Gopal (Hardcover)

About the Book

"As a family sings their baby to sleep, deities from the Hindu pantheon act as guardians of sweet slumber, from wise Ganesha, remover of obstacles, to joyful Krishna, prince of music, to powerful Durga, goddess of strength and protection. Richly illustrated by artist Nabi H. Ali, this gentle, reassuring text by author Jyoti Rajan Gopal wraps reader and listener in a message of love and comfort."--

Book Synopsis

In this original lullaby, rich cultural traditions combine with a family's hopes for their baby to create a soothing ritual sure to be a favorite bedtime read and baby shower gift.

May mighty Durga, fierce and true,
guard your slumbers all night through.
My little angel, my honeydew,
your cradle waits for you.

As a family sings their baby to sleep, deities from the Hindu pantheon act as guardians of sweet slumber, from wise Ganesha, remover of obstacles, to joyful Krishna, prince of music, to powerful Durga, goddess of strength and protection. Richly illustrated by artist Nabi H. Ali, this gentle, reassuring text by author Jyoti Rajan Gopal wraps reader and listener in a message of love and comfort.

Review Quotes

This calming story weaves a gentle circle of love. Tamil endearments intertwine with the elders' hopes, blessings, and prayers for the newest member of the family. Bold images in rich blues, sunset yellows, and dusky oranges showcase the Hindu gods in their regalia. . . . A lullaby that radiates feelings of protection and hope.
--Kirkus Reviews

[A] culturally rich bedtime picture book. . . Lushly rendered, dreamlike illustrations from Ali, in blues, golds, greens, and pinks, seem to evoke the iconography of South Indian Hindu temples, while spot illustrations throughout highlight lore and traditions. Lilting rhymes from Rajan Gopal (The Desert Queen) drive this tender familial lullaby with devotional cadences.
--Publishers Weekly (Starred Review)

Family, tradition and religion all come together with glowing illustrations to say, "Love is here with you."
--The Virginian Pilot

About the Author

Jyoti Rajan Gopal was born in India but grew up all over the world, from Thailand and Indonesia to Myanmar and China. She is the author of numerous picture books, including One Sweet Song, illustrated by Sonia Sánchez; American Desi, illustrated by Supriya Kelkar; My Paati's Saris, illustrated by Art Twink; Desert Queen, illustrated by Svabhu Kohli; and Sister Day, illustrated by Fanny Liem. About Love Is Here with You, she says, "It was inspired by a beloved Malayalam lullaby that my mom sang to me and my brother when we were little and that I sang to my babies at bedtime. I hope this lullaby sings many little ones to sweet slumber!" Jyoti Rajan Gopal lives in New York.

Nabi H. Ali is a Tamil-American illustrator who enjoys creating diverse works that showcase an array of cultures and people. Among the books he's illustrated are the picture books We Move the World by Kari Lavelle, Beautifully Me by Nabela Noor, Laxmi's Mooch by Shelly Anand, and All the Way to the Top: How One Girl's Fight for Americans with Disabilities Changed Everything by Annette Bay Pimentel. He also illustrated the graphic novel Ms. Marvel: Stretched Thin, written by Nadia Shammas, and the middle-grade fantasy novel Shakti, written by SJ Sindu. Nabi H. Ali lives in California.