Little Nutbrown Hare is trying to tell Big Nutbrown Hare just how much he loves him, but each time Big Nutbrown Hare's love seems to be bigger. Indeed, there is no way to measure the love, and Little Nutbrown Hare can finally only express it by saying his love is as far as the moon. After Big Nutbrown Hare kisses Little Nutbrown Hare goodnight, he whispers that his love is as far as the moon and back. This loving goodnight book has expressive and lively illustrations.
From Horn Book
An abbreviated edition of the story about Little Nutbrown Hare trying to prove how much he loves Big Nutbrown Hare is weakened by the addition of popups and pull tabs to the illustrations. The paper engineering is standard at best (some pages are quite stiff) and adds nothing to the sentiment of the text and the otherwise charming illustrations. Stick with the original edition. -- Copyright © 1999 The Horn Book, Inc. All rights reserved.
Fresh as a fiddlehead fern in spring, this beguiling bedtime tale features a pip of a young rabbit and his indulgent parent. Searching for words to tell his dad how much he loves him (and to put off bedtime just an eentsy bit longer), Little Nutbrown Hare comes up with one example after another ("I love you as high as I can hop!"), only to have Big Nutbrown Hare continually up the ante. Finally, on the edge of sleep, he comes up with a showstopper: "I love you right up to the moon." (Dad does top this declaration too, but only after his little bunny falls asleep.) Effused with tenderness, McBratney's wise, endearing and droll story is enriched by the near-monochromatic backdrop of Jeram's pen-and-wash artwork, rendered earthy tones of moss, soft brown and gray for a visually quieting effect just right for that last soothing tale before sleep. Ages 3-up. (Mar.)
Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly
Guess How Much I Love You by Sam McBratney, illus. by Anita Jeram, now appears in a gifty square-sized "Sweetheart Edition" for parent-child sharing, complete with a red cloth cover and gold type on the spine. Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.
PreS-K-In this simple story, a father and son try to outdo one another in expressing their affection. Little Nutbrown Hare says that he loves his father as high as he can reach. Big Nutbrown Hare replies that he loves his son as high as he can reach-which is very high. Father seems to be winning-until the young rabbit tells dad that he loves him right up to the moon-which his father agrees is very far away. But as he kisses his son goodnight, he replies, ``I love you right up to the moon-and back.'' The watercolor illustrations are composed of scratchy lines and large areas of watery washes that are charming, but not too sweet. Large typeface and repetitive refrains invite beginning readers. It's refreshing and realistic to see a father and son relationship that is both competitive and loving.-Karen K. Radtke, Milwaukee Public Library
ges 35. 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".
Effused with tenderness, McBratney's wise, endearing, and droll story is enriched by the near-monochromatic backdrop of Jeram's pen-and-wash artwork, rendered earthy tones of moss, soft brown, and gray for a visually quieting effect just right for that last soothing tale before sleep.
