"Schwartz's poetic second-person text lists life's essentials . . . while tracing a Chinese child's maturation into a young artist. Debut illustrator Hu's lush, full spreads follow the child and a swallow companion . . . through seasons and years. . . . Words and images gently align (the word warmth against an orange backdrop) in this gentle register of needs that moves through physiological requirements to successful self-actualization."--Publishers Weekly

"[A] poetically reflective story. . . . The simple, lyrical lines are accompanied by beautifully detailed double-page watercolor illustrations, which are expressive of the poem's serenity in their gentle pastel tones and soft brushstrokes. . . This is a thoughtful take on needs versus wants, but it also explores the idea of belonging, both to a community and to the wider circle of life on our planet."--Booklist