I Love You Too

by Ziggy Marley, Akashic Books, 48pp., $15.95

At 4 months, our budding Rasta-to-be rated I Love You Too high. Gdansk-born/Bath-based illustrator Ag Jatkowska strokes a whimsical version of hand-painted Polish film posters through her own color-slashed alternate reality. Still, initially, my man Lazlo found the verses a teensy bit long. After all, “I Love You Too” began with its author adopting his father Bob Marley’s I Threes concept – feminine refrain to the preacher’s call – on Grammy-winning 2009 children’s disc Family Time, which pairs Wailers harmonic linchpin Rita Marley with her mother-in-law/his grandmother Cedella. Former teen leader of Sesame Street guests Ziggy Marley & the Melody Makers, not to mention dreadlocked scion behind the theme song to animated TV hit Arthur, the singer then won an Emmy for the song’s inclusion on BBC toons time 3rd & Bird. In fact, the only media missing here is the actual song. Marley’s daughter, Judah, prompted this printed spin-off by announcing its call to him one morning. His response, repeated 30 times throughout I Love You Too, hooked Lazlo. Add in another baker’s dozen of “I love you,” and repeat over and over to your toddler. This looks to be on our home charts for weeks, months, maybe even years. (Sun., 2pm, Children’s Tent @ 13th & Colorado)

This article appears in October 24 • 2014.

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San Francisco native Raoul Hernandez crossed the border into Texas on July 2, 1992, and began writing about music for the Chronicle that fall, debuting with an album review of Keith Richards’ Main Offender. By virtue of local show previews – first “Recommendeds,” now calendar picks – his writing’s appeared in almost every issue since 1993.