Home › Asian American & Pacific Islander › The Shape of Love
  • The Shape of Love by Carren Jao book cover
  • The Shape of Love by Carren Jao book cover
1 2

The Shape of Love

by Carren Jao

A family’s love, packed for the journey

$20.37 USD
$33.96 USD $20.37 USD
Save 40%

Hardcover New

Delivery to your door
In stock·Dispatches in 1–2 business days
Standard shipping* from $4.35
Standard shipping transit* 5–8 business days after dispatch

Faster options are available.

Rates and delivery estimates depend on your destination and item quantity. Estimates are informational only; the final shipping method and rate are selected at checkout.
Secure checkout
American Express Apple Pay DiscoverGoogle Pay Mastercard PayPalVisa
30-day eligible returns Returns & refunds policy

Awards & Recognition

  • Author recognition

    Lee & Low Books New Voices Award winner

    The metadata identifies Carren Jao as a winner of the Lee & Low Books New Voices Award.

AlbakiReads Editorial

A family’s love, packed for the journey

For Celia’s family, connection takes the form of a balikbayan box: a parcel packed by a mother working in Los Angeles and sent to loved ones in the Philippines. Its contents are chosen with individual family members in mind, from basketball sneakers to a favorite fantasy series and chocolates. The story brings a Filipino tradition into a family narrative about distance, care, and the ways thoughtful gifts can help loved ones feel close. The box serves as both the story’s central image and a tangible expression of family connection.

Good fit for readers who enjoy

  • Children interested in stories about family relationships across distance.
  • Readers curious about Filipino traditions and balikbayan boxes.
  • Families looking for a picture-book story centered on care expressed through meaningful gifts.

Themes

Family connection across distanceFilipino traditionThoughtful gift-givingLove expressed through care

Based on publisher information and book metadata.

Book overview

In this heartfelt ode to balikbayan boxes, a mom working in Los Angeles packs a large box full of special gifts and household items to send to her family living in the Philippines as a thoughtful act of connection between family.

In Celia's family,

love isn't shaped like a heart.

It is a balikbayan box--a cardboard treasure chest

filled with dreams on the brink of coming true!

Although distance keeps her family apart, Celia stays close to her loved ones by tenderly packing items to send to the Philippines. Each item is carefully chosen and placed in a balikbayan box. The perfect sneakers for her basketball-loving son, the latest book in her daughter's favorite fantasy series, delicious chocolates for her youngest child--treasures for each of them to cherish and enjoy!

Winner of the Lee & Low Books New Voices Award, author Carren Jao celebrates a Filipino tradition that continues to this day. With captivating illustrations by Corinne Caro, The Shape of Love reminds us that love is more than a feeling--it is a powerful promise that endures time and great distances to keep families connected.

Shipping & returnsShipping options, delivery timing, and our return policy.

In-stock items normally dispatch within 1–2 business days. The ZIP-code estimator on this page is informational only; the final shipping method, price, and availability are confirmed at checkout for your full order.

For the initial delivery estimate we use these transit windows after dispatch: Standard 5–8 business days, Expedited 2–4 business days, and Priority 1–2 business days. Holiday delays are not included.

Eligible items can be returned within 30 days in accordance with our return policy.

Customer reviews

You may also like

View all