Book Review: Guess How Much I Love You, by Sam Mcbratney

Reflecting the need for reassurance that all children seek that their parents love them unreservedly, Sam McBratney's "Guess How Much I Love you" deals with the persistence of a young rabbit, Little Nutbrown Hare, who thinks he can measure love.

Searching for words to tell his father, Big Nutbrown Hare, how much he loves him, Little Nutbrown Hare holds on tight to his father's ears looking for his full attention.

"Guess How Much I Love you," he says.
"Oh I don't think I could guess that," Big Nutbrown Hare answers.

Little Nutbrown Hare opens his arms as wide as he can to prove the enormity of his love.

"I love you as high as I can reach!"

But Big Nutbrown Hare can open his arms wider.

Then, a sweet, tender game begins where Little Nutbrown Hare comes up with numerous love demonstrations to prove that his love for Big Nutbrown Hare is bigger.

"I love you as high as I can hop!"

"I love you to my toes!"

After some time, feeling tired, Little Nutbrown Hare is ready to admit defeat. But, suddenly he thinks that nothing is bigger than the sky.

"I love you right up to the moon," he says and falls asleep.

"I love you right up to the moon and back," Big Nutbrown Hare answers.

McBratney's sweet, simple story teaches young children that love is not an easy thing to measure. Completing each other on how they love each other, father and son produce a fun story. The Little Hare meets tough competition as his father's love is always bigger than his. In the last sentence, the Little Hare comes up with a smart declaration and you really think that he finally managed to measure love. But, then father comes up with a smarter declaration that obviously has no answer. What love could be bigger than the one that flies right to the moon and back?

McBratney conveys his message narrating a wise, charming and funny story in a simple and kid-appealing manner. Big Nutbrown Hare's repetitive answers unveil the unconditional love parents have for their children reflecting how important the love of a father for his child is. Little Nutbrown Hare's declarations reveal the extravagant way children think when they insist on their feelings and want to show that they do anything better than their parents. All this game puts the entire family into a relaxing mood and peaceful state of mind.

Anita Jeram captures the feeling of the story delightfully. Her almost monochromatic background, enriched by pen-and-wash artwork in the light tones of brown and gray, reflects the peaceful state of mind that children are in, when tucked in their bed, ready to fall asleep. Both rabbits, Little Nutbrown Hare and Big Nutbrown Hare, are expressive, although they are sketched without human attributes. The angle of the ears, the plain gestures and facial expressions reflect calmness and serenity. The entire illustration is as much as required to enhance the simple story of sweet familial love with insight.

Originally published in 1994, "Guess How Much I Love you" is definitely one of the best children's books. Conveying emotion and sentimentality, it manages with no more than 30 words spread in 20 pages to convey the meaning of parental / familial love in an effortless way. For me, "Guess How Much I Love you" is one of those readings that make you think how much you love your children. And this is good enough to read the book over and over again; and enjoy it right up to the moon and back.

http://www.commonsensemedia.org/book-reviews/Guess-Much-I-Love.html