Guess How Much I Love You is a children’s book written in 1994 by Sam McBratney.
Summary
In this beloved children’s
book Little Nut Brown Hare is trying to stave off bedtime by telling his Big
Nut Brown Hare how much he loves him.
There’s a problem though. No
matter how much Little Nut Brown Hare loves his Big Nut Brown Hare, his Big Nut
Brown Hare can always beat him in his expressions of love. When Little Nut Brown Hare extends his arms
out from his sides and says, “I love you this much,” Big Nut Brown Hare extends
his even longer arms out and says, “But I love you this much.” Little Nut Brown Hare is awestruck that Big
Nut Brown Hare can love him so much. He
tries to outdo him, and when he thinks he has he eventually settles down to
sleep. Big Nut Brown Hare ultimately
gets the last word as Little Nut Brown Hare falls asleep feeling loved “to the
moon-and back.”
Impressions
This book is popular because
as parents read the book, the simple expressions of love remind them of their
own unbelievable love for their child.
When one becomes a parent you are hit with this overwhelming realization
that the love you feel for your child is unlike anything you have felt
before. This book explains that love in
sweet sentiments. The characters are
playing the “I love you more” game that most parents and kids have played at
one time or other. It’s a fun back and
forth that is repetitive enough to keep young children interested.
The muted watercolor and ink illustrations
by Anita Jeram are a precious interpretation of the endearing text. The soft colors are perfect for helping
children wind down to prepare for sleep.
She somehow is able to capture the love between the two hares through
her artwork.
As you can tell, the text and
illustrations had me hooked. I love the
book in its board book and hard cover form.
My children asked me to read it to them over and over again when they
were toddlers. Although my teenagers put
their copies in the donate pile, I pulled them out. I plan on giving these books back to them as gifts when
they become parents.
Professional Reviews
After a playful pre-bedtime
romp, Little Nutbrown Hare asks his long-eared and long-limbed father,
"Guess how much I love you." The little hare says, "This
much," and stretches his arms as wide as they can go — but his father's
reach is wider. When Little Nutbrown Hare reaches up high or hops into the air,
Big Nutbrown Hare can reach higher and hop so high that he reaches the branches
of a tree. The little hare is impressed by his father's accomplishments but
keeps trying until, finally, when he's "almost too sleepy to think
anymore," he murmurs, "I love you right up to the moon" and
closes his eyes. Big Nutbrown Hare agrees that is very far, tucks him into a
bed of leaves, kisses him good-night, and whispers, "I love you right up
to the moon — and back." Anita Jeram's pen-and-ink and watercolor pictures
of the father and son hare are both comical and endearing. The sweet, gentle
story should give much pleasure to parents and children as part of a loving
bedtime ritual.
--Horn Book Magazine 1995
Ages 3-5. An endearing
nursery game is beautifully revitalized in this comforting, sleepy-time picture
book. A little hare tests his father's love by declaring his own: "Guess
how much I love you ... This much." Jeram's double-page-spread watercolors
are just right for the gentle competition that ensues as parent and child each
avow affection in ever more expansive terms. Neither sugary nor too
cartoonlike, the watercolors, in soft shades of brown and greens with delicate
ink-line details, warmly capture the loving relationship between parent and
child as well as the comedy that stems from little hare's awe of his wonderful
dad. The story ends with a declaration of love so great it reaches "right
up to the moon," and little hare finally falls fast asleep. There's not a
wrong note in this tender tale, which should become an enduring bedtime
favorite - right up there with Goodnight Moon.
--Booklist 1995
Library Uses
This book has library uses
appropriate for adults and children. On
a library blog or in a newsletter this book could be a part of a list of
recommended books for expecting and new parents. For children, the book could be used as a
part of a Valentine’s Day focus. It
could be read along with other books expressing love. Children could then draw or write their own “I love you more” sentiment to be included in
a Valentine’s Day Card.
References
McBratney, S. (1995). Guess how much I love
you. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Candlewick Press.
Zeiger, H. B. (1995, July-August). Guess How
Much I Love You. The Horn Book Magazine, 71(4), 452. Retrieved from
http://go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CA17238208&v=2.1&u=txshracd2679&it=r&p=LitRC&sw=w&asid=7ba6f6443daf14e6a3b6ccc9b128eb96
Zvirin, Stephanie.
"Guess How Much I Love You." Booklist 15 Mar. 1995: 1328. Literature
Resource Center. Web. 1 Feb. 2015.
Retrieved from http://go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CA16848942&v=2.1&u=txshracd2679&it=r&p=LitRC&sw=w&asid=e3f184b71d3c948e798e316d38d612f2
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