Sam McBratney (1943–2020)

Little Nutbrown Hare and his father, Big Nutbrown Hare, have what at first glance seems like a love competition in this sweet reassurance tale from Northern Irish author Sam McBratney and English illustrator Anita Jeram. As the younger hare declares his love, only to be continually outdone by his elder - "I love you as high as I can reach," the son says, but his father can reach higher - it gradually emerges that the two are enacting a bedtime ritual in which their mutual love is reaffirmed, show more all while the elder tacitly signals his protection, and the younger his admiration.

A contemporary classic for young children, Guess How Much I Love You was originally published in 1994, and is a book I have read many times over the years, although I am only now (in 2016) getting around to recording my response to it. This edition is a 20th Anniversary one, and contains a brief note from both author and illustrator. I've always loved this gentle tale, with its humorous and indulgent papa hare, and its cute-as-a-button hare son. McBratney perfectly captures their back and forth, just as Anita Jeram captures their loving bond in her charming ink and watercolor illustrations. I particularly love the contrasts between Big and Little Nutbrown Hare, as they gesticulate. Recommended most highly to anyone looking for reassurance tales for younger children! show less

"Grote Haas, kom eens hier met je oren. Ik moet je iets héél belangrijks vertellen. "Raad eens hoeveel ik van je hou?" Hazeltje en Grote Haas willen elkaar graag laten zien hoeveel ze van elkaar houden. Telkens als Hazeltje iets bedacht heeft, doet Grote Haas daar nog een schepje bovenop."

Nadat ik dit prentenboek gelezen had, voelde ik mij helemaal opgelaten. Zo'n kort verhaal maar zó effectief. Liefde en geluk voor elkaar staat centraal en dat is iets wat je in deze tijd mist; het wordt show more allemaal niet meer zo uitgesproken als de citaat van hierboven.

Het boek is mooi vormgegeven en bevat duidelijke en veelzeggende illustraties waarop je kunt ingaan als ouder, leerkracht of iemand anders die dit boek voorleest.

Ik raad dit boek zeker aan, want je bent nooit te vroeg om te leren om van elkaar te houden en elkaar lief te hebben. show less

Two best friends quarrel, and the protagonist muses on how he could say he is sorry. A bit wistful in tone. Certainly useful to read to kids who are getting into fights with each other, and to open up discussion about what they could do to get over the fight.

Mindi has a big goose in her bedroom, the simple, direct, much needed illustrations show that it’s the shadow of different things in different pictures. The big goose is keeping Mindi awake at night. Her parents can’t see it or figure out how to deal with this imaginary fear. So her father walks a distance to a wise old man named Austen for advice. Upon Austen’s advice Mindi’s father takes Mindi along the long walk to Austen’s farm to meet the animals, including the two geese and a show more goat. Mindi befriends the goat and the old man has a very creative solution to the big goose dilemma. Trade the goat for the goose no one else can see. It works wonderfully and the farmer ends up with three geese in the last picture, leaving the children reading the book wondering where that third goose came from. I love the creative solution and the theories my kids came up with about the third goose at the end.
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