Be/Hold: A Friendship Book

I’ve never considered compound words to be a particularly beautiful thing. Helpful? Sure. A fun puzzle for early readers to piece together? Absolutely. But when I think of rich, gorgeous language, the compound word does not come to mind. And that is what is so special about this book – like all great poets, Erlichman shows us that if we look closely and listen carefully, there is a certain type of magic to be found in everyday things.

Be/Hold is filled to the brim with love – for friends, for ourselves, and for language. Erlichman tickles our hearts with her playful use of compound words both real and imaginary, like honeysong, bookworm, nightjar, slowpoke, yesbody, sweetpea, braincloud, jellyfish, seesaw, and the title of the book itself: behold. She writes in her afterword (also a compound word! They’re everywhere!), “To behold is to simultaneously be and hold. It is stillness and activity. It is presence and permission. Let go and carry. Life can be challenging. Learning to be/hold can keep us grounded and open.” A life lesson perfectly contained in six letters. And it doesn’t stop there. Erlichman also presents us with the idea that not only is friendship a compound word, but compound words themselves are friendships, as they “illuminate how much more interesting and vibrant life is when we unite.” They are poems in miniature, tiny odes to “the creativity it takes to merge many truths.”

This book, like many in our children’s collection, is intended for young people but can be meaningful for readers of any and all ages. Erlichman does not shy away from the fact that being alive is not a simple task. It is full of complications and challenges, many of which can feel insurmountable. But with its sparse, precise text and imaginative, abstract illustrations, this brilliant little book shows us how much more wonderful life can be when we choose love, even when we are at our lowest. When we learn to grow together, rather than drift apart.

“It’s not easy to be brave. The waves are high, the sea is dark. But come, become with me.”