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Item Description

Description
Interest level: Pre-K–3 | Grade level: 1 | Lexile Level: AD380L | Guided Reading Level/F&P: I

Released simultaneously with Ziggy Marley’s new album, Fly Rasta.

A debut children’s book by reggae icon Ziggy Marley with illustrations by Ag Jatkowska.

A beautifully illustrated, multicultural children’s picture book based on one of Ziggy Marley’s most beloved songs, “I Love You Too.” The book explores a child’s relationship with parents, nature, and the unstoppable force of love. This is Ziggy’s first book, though his foray into children’s music is extensive and very well known. He is the singer of “Believe in Yourself,” the popular theme song of the hit TV show, Arthur.

Marley has been a long-time fixture in the children’s entertainment arena. In 2004, he played the role of Ernie, the mischievous jellyfish in the Dreamworks animated smash, Shark Tale, and has made appearances on multiple family and children’s shows including Sesame Street, Dora the Explorer, the 2009 “Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade,” and A Family Is a Family Is a Family: A Rosie O’Donnell Celebration on HBO. In 2009, Ziggy, along with his wife, children, and mother Rita Marley, joined President Barack Obama for the 131st annual White House Easter Egg Roll celebration. More recently, he has crafted the theme song for HBO’s Saving My Tomorrow, is featured in the GRAMMY Museum / Cal Science Center’s Exhibit “Saving the Earth with Music” and lent his voice to the PupStar franchise. Marley is also an honorary member of the board of directors for Little Kids Rock, an organization that provides free musical instruments and free lessons to children in public schools throughout the United States.

From the introduction by Ziggy Marley:

“One day I was in my kitchen making breakfast with my then three-year-old daughter Judah. She looked at me and said, ‘I love you.’ I spontaneously replied to her, ‘I love you too.’ From that came the song and now the book based on the lyrics. I hope you share and enjoy this with your loved ones as I have with mine. I love you too.”

*A coproduction of Akashic Books and Tuff Gong Worldwide

Item Special Note

About Ziggy Marley
An eight-time GRAMMY winner, Emmy winner, author, philanthropist, and reggae icon, Ziggy Marley has released thirteen albums to much critical acclaim. Now with his own label, Tuff Gong Worldwide, and publishing company, Ishti Music, Marley has complete control of his master recordings and publishing. His early immersion in music came at age ten when he sat in on recording sessions with his father, Bob Marley. As front man to Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers, the group released eight best-selling albums that garnered three GRAMMYs, with such chart-topping hits as “Look Who’s Dancing,” “Tomorrow People,” and “Tumbling Down.” Ziggy’s first solo album, Dragonfly (RCA Records), was released in 2003. His second solo release, Love is My Religion (Tuff Gong Worldwide), won a GRAMMY in 2006 for “Best Reggae Album.” His third solo studio album, Family Time (Tuff Gong Worldwide), scored a 5th GRAMMY award for “Best Children’s Album.” In 2011, Ziggy released his 4th solo studio album, Wild and Free, as well as his first graphic novel entitled MARIJUANAMAN. His 2012 live album Ziggy Marley In Concert, earned a 6th GRAMMY award for “Best Reggae Album” and he released his debut children’s book I Love You Too. Ziggy’s fifth solo studio album, Fly Rasta was released to mass critical acclaim in 2015, and earned his 7th GRAMMY for “Best Reggae Album”. 2016 marked the release of Marley’s self-titled album, which garnered his 8th GRAMMY, as well as the Ziggy Marley and Family Cookbook.

About Akashic Books

About Us
Akashic Books is a Brooklyn-based independent company dedicated to publishing urban literary fiction and political nonfiction by authors who are either ignored by the mainstream, or who have no interest in working within the ever-consolidating ranks of the major corporate publishers.

Praise for Akashic Books
“As many in publishing struggle to find ways to improve on an increasingly outdated business model, independents such as Akashic—which are more nimble and less risk-averse than major publishing houses—are innovators to watch.”
—LOS ANGELES TIMES

“It’s heartening that even as the dinosaurs of publishing are lurching toward extinction, nimble independent publishers like Akashic are producing high-quality, innovative content.”
—PORTLAND MERCURY

“Akashic fits in that very slight category of publishers, growing slimmer every day, whose colophon is a recommendation on its own.”
—TORONTO STAR

“Akashic is one of the most impressive of the newer small presses, in part because of editing and production values that rival and perhaps surpass the big houses. We’re grateful to them . . .”
—DENVER POST