Customer Reviews

I'll Be You and You Be Me

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

As a child in the 1950s, this was my very favorite book, much like a deeply treasured playmate. When I became a father, I looked for it to share with my daughter, but it was way, way out of print. Decades later, I became a father again and found a used paperback copy in Canada. My 2 1/2 year old daughter now loves this book as much as I did almost fifty years ago, and asks for it every night. It is timeless. One of the reasons I think it has lasted so well is that much of the ideas the great Ruth Krauss used for the book came from small children themselves. It also features the early work of Krauss'long-time collaborator who went on to write wonderful books himself, Maurice Sendak. I'm very happy that I'll Be You and You Be Me has now been reissued in hardback. If you are a parent of a child under five, do yourself a favor and buy this book--before it goes out of print again

Almost fifty years ago, Ruth Krauss and Maurice Sendak collaborated on this special little book, told from a child's perspective, about love and friendship (love is the same as like/only you spell them different-/only more of the same, sort of-/Love has more stuff in it!), and it is as fresh and meaningful today, as it was back in the early fifties. I'll Be You And You Be Me is a marvelous collection of poems, stories, short plays, fairy tales and other bits of whimsy and imagination. Ms Krauss uses her talented ear to capture the essence of a small child at play and you can almost hear that little voice talking and explaining his or her vision of life and the world, as you read (I went to you./I went to me./I went to/every where./And I went/THERE.). Mr Sendak complements each written idea with his expressive and wonderfully detailed pen and ink drawings. Together, this dynamic duo has authored a simple, gentle book full of childlike insight, wisdom and humor that will charm and delight both youngsters and adults. Perfect for preschoolers, I'll Be You And You Be Me is a masterpiece and a timeless treasure to read together and share and pass along to friends family and future generations.

I just came here from reviewing "A Very Special House" and I feel like I'm repeating myself. This was a book my sisters and I loved when we were children. One of the places I lived had a wonderful children's books store, and even though at the time I had no intention of ever having children myself, I bought it just for me. It was probably ten years later when I had my daughter, and I could hardly wait for her to be old enough to enjoy it. It isn't a story, it's a series of vignettes. Sometimes several items to a page, sometimes just one picture. Some of the bits are told entirely in pictures, but there is certainly no feeling of a comic book, it's very serious about friends and best friends and imagination. I don't look at it much these days, but I only have to look into my mind to see the dance of the little red shoes. "Someday, someday, little red shoes" became a family phrase for something you yearn for and will keep as a touchstone. Someday I'll get that. It doesn't seem to matter that it won't be today, it's enough to know that (that beautiful ring I saw at the craft show . . . the hybrid car . . . the glass blowing classes) are still wonderful dreams that I haven't given up.

Like A Hole Is To Dig, another Krauss/Sendak collaboration, this book comes as close to perfection as any children's book I know. Full of wonderful almost-poems of a surreal beauty and simplicity that express simple truths and timeless values: sharing, generosity, helping others, coping with disappointments, how dreams (and children) are life-giving forces. All of this wrapped up in a non-saccharine package due to the book's simplicity. We read this book over and over and I never ever tire of it -- have bought it for many children and many adults not only to spread the pleasure but also because I believe you cannot be too old to (re)learn the truths of this text.

I hesitate to give this book less than five stars because I really do appreciate good literature and Ruth Krauss. And any book with illustrations by Maurice Sendak is worth giving to a child.

That said, the illustrations are the best part of the book. It is not Ruth Krauss' best. Don't get me wrong, I love creativity and the childlikeness of the poems included. But my kids didn't really get it. EVen though they are gentle and creative types, the poems appealed more to me than them. They couldn't catch the subtle sense of humor either.

NOw my kids are young (4 and 6), so maybe they'll appreciate it more when they are older. And they did get some smiles out of the Song for Monkey. But I am not sure they were prepared for a new story each page, with very little connection throughout the book. Buy this for yourself and get the kids "The Carrot Seed" or something else.