There seem to be more books about mothers and children than fathers and children. Guess How Much I Love You by Sam McBratney is a fun exception, with a little male competition.
The story is about two rabbits, Little Nutbrown Hare and his father, Big Nutbrown Hare. Little Nutbrown Hare holds onto his father’s long ears to make sure he’s listening. He wants his father to guess how much he loves him. His father says he doesn’t think he could guess that. Little Nutbrown Hare stretches out his arms as wide as possible and tells his father he loves him that much. Big Nutbrown does the same, but his arms are much longer. So Little Nutbrown tells his father he loves hi as high as he can reach. Big Nutbrown Hare tells his son that he loves him as high as he can reach. Little Nutbrown Hare wishes he had such long arms. The story continues in this playful way, with the little rabbit hopping and stretching upside down. He tells his father that he loves him as far as the river. Big Nutbrown loves his son even farther.
By this time, the little rabbit is getting sleepy, he looks up at the sky and decides that northing could be farther than that. He tells his father that he loves him right up to the moon. The illustrations show the sleepy rabbit nestled in his father’s arms. The father agrees that that is indeed very far. He lays the little rabbit onto his bed of leaves and kisses his good night. For a minute we think that the little rabbit has won the “I love you” contest. But his father whispers, “I love you right up to the moon – and back.”
Guess How Much I Love You is recommended for preschoolers to early elementary aged children. This is a great book to buy for a new father, or any father who likes to share books with his children. It’s a nice book for bedtime, too. And the illustrations by Anita Jeram show a great deal of fun expressions on this family of rabbits.
Also See:
The Tom and Pippo Books – Helen Oxenbury
Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale – Mo Willems
Quarterback Dad – Bobby Mercer