All That You Are

Hubbard (Hip Cat) sends a cheerily illustrated book of affirmations to loved ones in this compact picture book. Opening with a picture of a gift, the book begins, ""Today is a day to celebrate you."" The text then catalogues such positive qualities as ""You walk with confidence""; ""When others need help you take responsibility""; ""You are generous""; and closes with ""You are the gift,"" making the volume an appropriate present for just about any occasion. While young children are not likely to grasp the full meaning here, the book's upbeat message is one that bears repeating. Hubbard's jazzy compositions are the real draw. With the crisp-lined look of cut-paper collage, they feature contrasting hues and bold, sharply drawn patterns that nearly vibrate off the pages. A dragon rendered in a red-orange geometric design is a standout, and the final spread creates visual fanfare with flocks of birds, a cat playing trumpet, a boy and his dog singing atop a bike and an abundance of balloons and flowers, all set against an orange, cloud-dappled sky. All ages. (Mar.)