Customer Reviews

Papa, Do You Love Me?

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

 

 

This companion to the popular book "Mama Do You Love Me" transfers the concept of a child seeking reassurance of a parent's unswerving love from the Inuit people of Alaska to the Masai people of Africa. In this book, a young Masai boy asks his father how much the father loves him. The resulting dialog, meant to reassure the boy that a father's love is unconditional, makes up the majority of the story.

This book seems to address some of the concerns of some reviewers of "Mama Do You Love Me," who worried that book encouraged bad behavior. In that book, the young daughter asks if her mother would love her even if she did very naughty things, like throwing water on the family's lamp; no matter what, the mother's answer was always that she would love the daughter. In this book, the young son never gets up to any intentional mischief; in fact, many of the son's questions result in the father explaining how he would help teach his son or protect him from danger. In this way, it seemed like a very realistic way to present one of the differences between how some mothers and fathers relate to their children. The father in this story says the actual words "I love you" far less than the mother in "Mama Do You Love Me," but he shows his love for his son through his actions.

Children who enjoy the repeated "I love you" refrain in "Mama Do You Love Me" may be disappointed not to find it in this book. However, the engaging story and beautiful illustrations should go a long way towards making up for that. Overall, this is a touching story that's perfect for fathers to read to both their sons and daughters.

The authors of "Mama do you love me?" have written "Papa do you love me?", this time set in east Africa. Perhaps it is because I am a father, but I liked this one better, if only because the characters present less mischief. As a previous reviewer noted, the quiet refrain of "do you love me" is of course answered in the affirmative, but the gentle reassurance the father gives is more concerned with guidance and protection. Like "Mama, do you love me?" the book is sweet, and the art work is beautiful. Recommended, especially for single dads.

Our kids love the other book (Mama Do you Love Me), and it's nice on two levels, teaching about unconditional love, and also teaching about different cultures. This one is similar, though the page on which hyenas kill a cow has upstaged the intended messages for the time being. I think having hyenas surround and kill a cow on a darkly illustrated page is a little unnecessary, and my kids keep opening it to that page and asking me about it, so I know it's making an impression on them. They're nearly 4. Their other books don't have killing. I'm not sure what I think of this. Otherwise, it's a sweet book.

An East African father and son travel familiar terrain with readers in this beautifully presented theme of unconditional love. This book is about a Masai father and son who are out herding cattle one day. The young boy, like his Inuit and Hawaiian counterparts of "Mama, Do You Love Me" and "Grandma Calls Me Beautiufl" respectively" asks the same question - will Papa love him regardless of what he does?

The fact that this story is set in Africa and the beautiful illustrations draw readers into the world of the characters is incidental to the timeless message of unconditional love. This book, like Joosse's other masterpieces is a global handshake. Readers learn about Masai culture, flora and fauna. The boy in this story wants to know how much and how long his Papa loves him. This book like "Grandma Calls Me Beautiful," includes a glossary of Masai culture. The illustrations are masterpieces and this book is one to share with others. It is truly a classic.

After reading "Mama Do You Love Me" to my daughter nightly I knew I had to buy this for my husband when our son was born. It is a little longer and a little more complex than "Mama Do You Love Me," but the story is similar. I still love the new cultural awareness and the basis of the story.

I like the other book, but I like this one more.

In the first book, the little girl wants reassurance that no matter how badly she behaves, her mother will still love her. (And she will.) It's a very honest book, but the point is simply that Mom has unconditional love, and that's enough.

This book is more about "How will you take care of me?", and it works *better*. Dad will do any of a number of things to take care of his kid, because he loves him. It comes across better - less misbehaviour for one, and also, love has a more active form. When you love somebody, this is what you do. You don't simply say "Yup, I love you" all day long.

They're both good books, and I recommend the pair for any parents (maybe not at birth - give it to them when their kids turn four or five), but this is a better one.

This books tells a wonderful and sweet story. It is well written and the illustrations are wonderful. Buy this book ASAP for your younger children.