Description

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Faces: A Love Story is an inspirational picture book for people of all ages featuring a simple text and full-color face illustrations of those we might see in our neighborhood, in the office or school, in the grocery store, on the playground, or on the street. Faces reflecting the image of God. Faces that remind us of our diversity and the stories we tell through colors, shapes, scars, ages, and expressions, now more than ever as we live in quarantine. And when life returns to normal, faces we cherish more than ever did before.
 

About the Author

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Artist and author Roger Hutchison is the Director of Christian Formation and Parish Life at Palmer Memorial Episcopal Church in Houston, Texas. His first book, The Painting Table: A Journal of Loss and Joy, has been used by people of all ages in schools, churches, and community groups across the United States. Roger’s second book, Under the Fig Tree: Visual Prayers and Poems for Lent (2015) has been released to rave reviews. He had the privilege of painting with children who had witnessed the tragic shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, CT. The experience affected him profoundly and convinced him of a vocation to use his writing and art to serve those who grieve.

Praise For…

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“Roger Hutchison has given us a gift, a beautiful, hopeful gift for children of all ages. Faces: A Love Story is a celebration of humanity—a colorful and diverse picture book full of life. Every page sings, offering us not only a tale about ourselves but a detailed holy story about our imaginative and creative God.” —Matthew Paul Turner, author of When God Made You and When I Pray for You
 
"Faces is a glorious celebration of humanity through a diverse collection of beautiful portraits. We need more books like this to help our children—and us—remember that each one of us is part of the Divine image just exactly as we are.” —Daneen Akers, author of Holy Troublemakers & Unconventional Saints
 
“Lyrical and visually arresting, Faces: A Love Story invites us to notice and appreciate the image of the Divine in every other person. The rich colors, variety of artistic styles and motifs, and diverse cast of characters that author/illustrator Roger Hutchison has created result in a gorgeous celebration of difference.” —Jennifer Grant, author of A Little Blue Bottle

“Faces: A Love Story, speaks to me as a child of God that struggles to love herself as God made her. God created me and all of us after God’s own heart. As a black woman and a mother of a black son, I am reminded that God is here—even when we are afraid and treated as less than. God did not create these divisions. This book is a warm hug for humanity!" —Marlo Adjankara

 
“Roger Hutchison’s enchanting little book encourages us to look afresh at the ‘human face divine’ (as John Milton called it) and reminds us that sometimes we can glimpse God’s image shining through the faces around us, and that one day, when we no longer see ‘through a glass darkly,’ we will all see one another, and our Saviour, ‘face to face.’” —Malcolm Guite, poet, priest, singer/songwriter

“So many beautiful faces surround us, all of them unique because each is etched into existence by the Creator's loving hands. Hutchison has captured the magic of creation in this book of faces and poetry which extends an invitation to drink deeply of the beauty of every person and pay close attention to all the faces that will be encountered while walking through daily life after the book is closed." —Catherine Meeks, PhD, Executive Director of the Absalom Jones Episcopal Center for Racial Healing; co-author of Passionate for Justice: Ida B. Wells A Prophet for Our Time

"In the spirit of Gerard Manley Hopkins’ 'Pied Beauty,' Faces celebrates our uniqueness—our feelings, our bodies, our stories, and our hopes. Hutchison beautifully personifies God as artist embracing not only the beauty of life, but the rage, suffering, and fear so many feel. This is the book we all need right now. Faces calls us to pause, breathe, and recognize our value as human beings." —Amy Smith Reeves, PhD., 19th century British Literature

"With its stunning illustrations and lyrical text, Faces makes for a page-turner. Told in lyrical verse and accompanied by visually arresting, full-color face illustrations, Hutchison's inspirational latest beautifully explores diversity, humanity, and faith. Hutchison begins the book with God's powerful, memorable voice as he writes: "I am the painter of stories and dreams./ I am the Artist of all that is./ Of you," and takes the reader on an exhilarating journey through a series of eloquent and originally crafted face vignettes of people we might see in our neighborhood, in the office or school, in the grocery store, on the playground, or on the street that reminds us of our diversity and reflects images of God. He explores people's inner fears: "We are separated by all of our assumptions,/ preconceptions/ misunderstandings,/ even a pandemic of fear./ So much mistrust." And even though fear is there, we wish to be surrounded by others, Hutchison contends. He urges readers to face their fear because when fear is conquered, we don't just endure the experience; we become new beings. The expressions on different faces are sketched with skill; the wear and tear of a life scarred by highs and lows are underscored with dark shades, while moments of happiness and contentment are filled with warm strokes. Hutchison captures the magic of creation as he writes: "Can you fathom how much I love you--/ your Creator/ the I AM/ the Alpha/ the Omega?" The last part of the book conveys a message about hope and faith, encouraging readers to believe in God's existence. His use of direct prose to convey his message makes it reassuring for young readers: he writes, "I will never leave you./ I am always here./ I created you, and I love you./ Nothing will ever separate us." A charming, childlike quality infuses the original elegant artwork; boldly hued full-color illustrations feature people from different races, religions, and colors. The text and pictures make beautiful music together, and like God's vast creations in nature, this composition is irresistible. Hutchison's story not only encourages young readers to revel in diversity and humanity but also speaks boldly to the grip of fear and insecurities and how to get over it. Faces: A Love Story is a lovely way to introduce young children to the concept of diversity, faith, and religion. Impressive with its bold, personality-laden colorful illustrations, the tale will charm both newly independent readers and their elders." —The Prairies Book Review