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Guess How Much I Love You
Guess How Much I Love You in the Summer
16 pages, Board Book
Published January 1, 2008
About the author
Sam McBratney
250 books732 followersThe 1943 born Northern Ireland native started writing children's books when he was a teacher in his thirties, with the aim of helping out students who had trouble reading. But he continued writing for a more-personal reason: "the act of imagining simply makes me feel good," he says. The fifty-seventh book of Sam McBratney's career, and his first book with Candlewick Press, was the much-loved GUESS HOW MUCH I LOVE YOU, which has sold an astonishing 15 million copies worldwide, and is available in 37 languages. "This is not the sort of thing you expect when most of your books have been remaindered," the author admits. "But, as the frog trapped in the milk discovered, if you keep going, sometimes you find yourself walking on cream cheese."
Where does Sam McBratney get his inspiration? "I told my children stories when they were young," he says, "so when I write I try to think of what they would have liked." But there may be another source guiding his writing as well. The author's father--who worked as a type compositor with the BELFAST TELEGRAPH, and whose favorite books were westerns--is the person Sam McBratney credits for giving him his love of the English language. "Most of my picture books--GUESS HOW MUCH I LOVE YOU, THE DARK AT THE TOP OF THE STAIRS, JUST ONE!, and JUST YOU AND ME--explore the relationship between a big one and a wee one," the author notes. "The big one is not called the father in the stories, but that's what he is. Although my dad died before I became a writer, the father in my stories has a voice and a presence that he would have recognized and understood."
In addition to authoring many books for children, Sam McBratney wrote radio plays for adults and a prize-winning collection of short stories. He received a degree in history and political science from Trinity College, Dublin, and worked for many years as a teacher.
Where does Sam McBratney get his inspiration? "I told my children stories when they were young," he says, "so when I write I try to think of what they would have liked." But there may be another source guiding his writing as well. The author's father--who worked as a type compositor with the BELFAST TELEGRAPH, and whose favorite books were westerns--is the person Sam McBratney credits for giving him his love of the English language. "Most of my picture books--GUESS HOW MUCH I LOVE YOU, THE DARK AT THE TOP OF THE STAIRS, JUST ONE!, and JUST YOU AND ME--explore the relationship between a big one and a wee one," the author notes. "The big one is not called the father in the stories, but that's what he is. Although my dad died before I became a writer, the father in my stories has a voice and a presence that he would have recognized and understood."
In addition to authoring many books for children, Sam McBratney wrote radio plays for adults and a prize-winning collection of short stories. He received a degree in history and political science from Trinity College, Dublin, and worked for many years as a teacher.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
March 23, 2019
عنوان ترجمه فارسی: ببین چه قدر دوستت دارم در تابستان
February 15, 2018
"Little Nutbrown Hare and Big Nutbrown Hare were down by the river on a summer's day. On a summer's day, there are colours everywhere."
My husband's family really enjoyed Guess How Much I Love You. I think in the Barker household is was the equivalent of Six Dinner Sid (a book about a ridiculously greedy black cat) in my family growing up. They have a wall decal in the guest bedroom that says "I love you to the moon and back", and there is an infamous joke that my husband made to his dad - 'I love you to the kettle and back' - that still gets quoted today. I missed out on this franchise as a child, so I picked this one up from the library.
Here, the young hare is taking in all the colours of the summer meadow in a very light narrative aimed at toddlers. The watercolours are perfectly suited to this sort of meandering stroll through nature, focusing in on what is seen. "Little Nutbrown Hare began to think, but he didn't really know. So many lovely things were green." In 2018, I can see older children getting restless with a book like this, but perhaps I have been spoiled with the wit of Kate Beaton and others whose picture books also appeal to older children and adults.
The ending twist is very sweet. "There are many lovely browns, but one was the best of all ... 'Nutbrown!'" When first written, the love between the little hare and his father would have been relatively under-represented in picture books compared to those focusing on the mother child relationship (unless Big Nutbrown Hare is an older sibling?), so I think for that reason alone this series will remain popular.
My husband's family really enjoyed Guess How Much I Love You. I think in the Barker household is was the equivalent of Six Dinner Sid (a book about a ridiculously greedy black cat) in my family growing up. They have a wall decal in the guest bedroom that says "I love you to the moon and back", and there is an infamous joke that my husband made to his dad - 'I love you to the kettle and back' - that still gets quoted today. I missed out on this franchise as a child, so I picked this one up from the library.
Here, the young hare is taking in all the colours of the summer meadow in a very light narrative aimed at toddlers. The watercolours are perfectly suited to this sort of meandering stroll through nature, focusing in on what is seen. "Little Nutbrown Hare began to think, but he didn't really know. So many lovely things were green." In 2018, I can see older children getting restless with a book like this, but perhaps I have been spoiled with the wit of Kate Beaton and others whose picture books also appeal to older children and adults.
The ending twist is very sweet. "There are many lovely browns, but one was the best of all ... 'Nutbrown!'" When first written, the love between the little hare and his father would have been relatively under-represented in picture books compared to those focusing on the mother child relationship (unless Big Nutbrown Hare is an older sibling?), so I think for that reason alone this series will remain popular.
November 9, 2024
"on a summer's day there are colours everywhere."
gosto tanto do verão. mas tem feito muito calor em todas as estações. isso me deixa desanimada. acho que o meu azul favorito também é o do céu, verde o dos olhos da minha mãe, vermelho de morangos, e amarelo do sol em desenhos. ah, e marrom da minha calça. não tenho usado muito ela.
gosto tanto do verão. mas tem feito muito calor em todas as estações. isso me deixa desanimada. acho que o meu azul favorito também é o do céu, verde o dos olhos da minha mãe, vermelho de morangos, e amarelo do sol em desenhos. ah, e marrom da minha calça. não tenho usado muito ela.
July 9, 2017
I enjoyed it more than Miss 2 did; appeals to those with fond feelings for the "Guess How Much I Love You" book (especially if you've been reading it for years). This one focuses more on identifying colours.
November 19, 2017
Lovely little book my son loves this!! Beautiful illustration with a sweet story to go along with it I recommend such a lovely series
July 18, 2019
I can't get over how much I love these! A great little book to practise colours and it's a great book to use in class as well!
December 15, 2024
We really enjoyed reading about Little Nutbrown Hare and Big Nutbrown Hare playing a kind of eye spy with all the lovely colours of summer!
May 31, 2026
Lovely ❤️❤️
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June 3, 2026Arvaan, että kesän tullen minua rakastetaan hyvin paljon. Saan monta suukkoa joka päivä.
August 24, 2026
This was cute! Not as good as the first, but still made for an enjoyable read
December 1, 2021
A beautiful seasonal book allowing little ones to explore plants, bugs and creatures associated with the time of year.
Bud engages well with the stunning scenes on each page and there are lots of things to point to and talk about.
We will definitely look at getting the other 3 seasons as a follow up.
Bud engages well with the stunning scenes on each page and there are lots of things to point to and talk about.
We will definitely look at getting the other 3 seasons as a follow up.
June 30, 2022
2022 review - 4/5 stars
Really, they way they express themselves is so cute, it seems that they have kind of a tradition to ask about the world in general but it always will end up with something related to them, to their conection. This is so lovely.
2021 review - 4/5 stars
Man, the illustrations in this book are awesome!! 😣
Im so trapped by this story.
So bad I have to wait until autumn to read the next one.
Really, they way they express themselves is so cute, it seems that they have kind of a tradition to ask about the world in general but it always will end up with something related to them, to their conection. This is so lovely.
2021 review - 4/5 stars
Man, the illustrations in this book are awesome!! 😣
Im so trapped by this story.
So bad I have to wait until autumn to read the next one.
May 28, 2019
Pidän aivan mielettömästi tavasta, jolla Iso Pupu ja Pikku Pupu on kuvitettu! Vaikka samantyylisiä eläinhahmoja taitaa vilistä lasten kuvakirjoissa alvariinsa, näissä on sitä jotain ekstra-suloista.
Pikku Pupu ja Iso Pupu tiedustelevat toisiltaan, mikä värejen sävyistä on kaikkein mieluisin.
Pikku Pupu ja Iso Pupu tiedustelevat toisiltaan, mikä värejen sävyistä on kaikkein mieluisin.
October 16, 2013
Kids loved it!
February 1, 2017
Pikku Kakkosesta tututu puput kirjassa. Sitä tunnaria jäi kaipaamaan.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews