Guess How Much I Love You by Sam McBratney and illustrated by Anita Jeram
Guess How Much I Love You
Author: Sam McBratney
Illustrator: Anita Jeram
Published: 1995
ISBN: 978-0-7636-0013-6
Pages: 32
Illustrations: colored illustrations on every page
Text Density per page: approximately 2-3 short sentences per page
Age: 3 and older (I would rate Guess How Much I Love You as 2 and older)
My Goodreads Rating: 5 stars (It was outstanding.)
Summary: Guess How Much I Love You
Sam McBratney’s picture book Guess How Much I Love You tells a tender story of a conversation between Big Nutbrown Hare and Little Nutbrown Hare one night at bedtime. “‘Guess how much I love you,’” asks Little Nutbrown Hare. He then describes his love in the greatest categories he can think of: as far as he can reach, run, jump. But, Big Nutbrown Hare answers Little Nutbrown Hare with those same categories and being bigger, Big Nutbrown Hare can always reach, run, or jump a little further than Little Nutbrown Hare. Finally the book concludes:
Then [Little Nutbrown Hare] looked beyond the thornbushes, out into the big dark night. Nothing could be farther than the sky.
“I love you right up to the moon,” he said, and closed his eyes.
“Oh, that’s far,” said Big Nutbrown Hare. “That is very, very far.” Big Nutbrown Hare settled Little Nutbrown Hare into his bed of leaves. He leaned over and kissed him good night.
Then he lay down close by and whispered with a smile, “I love you right up to the moon — and back.”
Illustrations: Guess How Much I Love You
Anita Jeram’s watercolor illustrations are warm and imaginative with shades of brown, green, and blue. According to Candlewick Press, she loves the illustrations in this picture book because they remind her of her own son’s bedtime shenanigans.
My Opinion: Guess How Much I Love You
Sam McBratney’s Guess How Much I Love You is a beautiful, classic picture book that every family should own and read. The rhythmic, repetitive prose soothes little children making this book a perfect “going to bed” book. Also, Guess How Much I Love You can be acted out (something my three-year old loves!)
For other reviews see:
Steve Barancik’s Best Children’s Books
Kids Book Review
Two special editions worth noting:
This Sweetheart Edition of Guess How Much I Love You would make a cute Valentine’s Day gift!
Guess How Much I Love You Sweetheart Edition
Kirkus Reviews gives this pop-up edition of Guess How Much I Love You their star for excellent quality. (Unfortunately for me, my children’s like to rip apart pop-up books!)
Guess How Much I Love You: Pop-Up
This book review is part of my Feb 2012 series Children’s Books That Say, “I Love You”
