I Love You As Much... [Hardcover]

Laura Krauss Melmed (Author), Henri Sorensen (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 2 and up

Celebrate Mother's Day every day. This celebration of the bond between mothers and their babies can be shared at naptime or bedtime or whenever it is time to say "I love you."

"Written in quatrains that break into couplets across each double page, this lullaby rhyme catalogues various animals and their offspring, describing each mother's testament of love." School Library Journal.

"The light-drenched, golden-toned pictures exert a quietly hypnotic effect on both reader and listener, aided by the lullaby's sonorous repetition of each mother animal's love poem to her baby." New York Times

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 1-Written in quatrains that break into couplets across each double page, this lullaby rhyme catalogues various animals and their offspring, describing each mother's testament of love. The mountain nanny goat says, "'I love you as much as the mountain is steep'"; the camel says, "'I love you as much as the desert is dry.'" The book ends with a full quatrain of love poetry from a woman to her newborn child. Sorensen's paintings are large and bright, spanning double-page spreads and extending to the edge of each page, with full backgrounds and panoramic views that enhance the animal characters. The deep tones, well-lit landscapes (which contrast effectively with the darkness of the final picture), and the multiple layers of opaque paint suggest a formality of portraiture that is not usually seen in children's books. The text, which is discretely tucked away in the corners of the pages where it does not interrupt the effect of the illustration, is set in a decorative italic font. The potential for sentimentality is certainly present, but Melmed carefully avoids the cute and tearful. While reading this book is certainly a satisfying experience, full of pathos and meaning for parents, it's likely to appeal more to them than to their children.
Ruth K. MacDonald, Quinnipiac College, Hamden, CT
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Scientific American

Ages 3-5. This simple picture book has a reassuring rhyming text and more than agreeably pleasant watercolors. One mother-child pair is shown in a natural setting on each double-page spread. The popularity of animal families with young readers and the comforting, rhythmic text combine to create an appealing title for bedtime reading. Concluding with a human mother and her child, Melmed writes: "Now sleep, child of mine, while the stars shine above-I love you as much as a mother can love." --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 2 and up
  
• Hardcover: 24 pages
• Publisher: HarperCollins; 1st edition (August 18, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 068811718X
• ISBN-13: 978-0688117184
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 11.1 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.1 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (49 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #197,159 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I Love You as Much, February 25, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: I Love You As Much... (Board book)

This book has not received the credit it deserves. I had never heard of it before my mother-in-law bought it for my son. It is an absolute MUST have book for new parents. The soft illustrations are beautiful. My 19 month old son loves this book. He seems to enjoy the rhyming words, and he loves to point at all of the animals. I can't read it to him without feeling that tremendous rush of motherly love. It can quickly make you forget all of the temper tantrums of the day. My husband and I both enjoy sharing this book with our little one.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Kids love to hear how much they are loved & this book really helps illustrate just how much..., November 4, 2005

By 

Wabi Sabi "bona-fide bibliomaniac" (rural USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: I Love You As Much... (Board book)

Reading this book to my children always brings the "warm & fuzzies" to all of us. My boys delight in asking me how/why each of the animal characters love and take care of their babies. The illustrations are such high quality that we always linger before turning the page. My boys seem to get swallowed up by the verse as well as the drawings. While the book could be quickly read, the tone is calm and slow...a perfect bedtime book. Everyone is happy and relaxed once we're through.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Instant bonding with your baby, December 3, 2004

By 

Bookworm Mommy "Felicia" (NC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: I Love You As Much... (Board book)

My 5 month old daughter and I LOVE this book. I started reading this as a bedtime book to her at around 3 months. It is the only book she will lie in my arms still and listen contently. I read it in a low, whispery voice. At the end we just sit in the nursery rocker and just stare at each other, both smiling. I get teary everytime. It will also be a good "name the animal" book when she gets older.