That "Crazy Little Thing Called Love:"Love Is Bubblegum by Kailyn Lowry

Ah! What is love? That question has provided endless opportunities for poets and composers. Shakespeare had quite a bit to say about it in his Romeo and Juliet:

Love is a smoke raised with the fume of sighs;
Being purged, a fire sparkling in lovers' eyes;
Being vex'd a sea nourish'd with lovers' tears:
What is it else? a madness most discreet,
A choking gall and a preserving sweet.

R 'n' B singers Mickey and Sylvia said "Love Is Strange." Composers Johnny Mercer and Harold Arlen called it "That Old Black Magic." Beatle George Harrison said it was "Something in the Way She Moves," and Lennon and McCartney replied that "Love is all you need."  Queen called it "That Crazy Little Thing." And in Frozen, Hans and Anna sing that "Love Is An Open Door."

In her Love is Bubblegum author Kailyn Lowry hands over this eternal question to the kids, and what they come up with is about as varied and moving as the answers the professionals poets and lyricists have given us.

It's mama and sis reading books at bedtime, opines Piper, aged 4.

Kaden goes for heroics, likening love to rescuing others from flaming buildings.

Thaddeus, aged nine, altruistically points out that love is doing nice things for others.

And then there is Paige, aged four, who comes up with an truly creative, outside the heart-shaped candy box  metaphor:

"Love looks like ... bubblegum."

How is love like bubblegum? "Let me count the ways," as Shakespeare would say.

Well. it's usually pink, the second-most favorite color for Valentine's Day. It's certainly sweet, and it can come in a variety of tastes. And, if it sticks to the bottom of your shoe, it can last almost forever.

Reality show star Kailyn Lowry and illustrator Fuuji Takashi show that kids have a lot to say on the eternal subject and have a lot of fun with their ideas in this book, another "Silly Love Song" to that heartfelt emotion that we celebrate annually on Valentine's Day. Kids will love reading what their peers think and may be inspired to pen their own definitions of "that funny feeling called love."