You're Just What I Need [Hardcover]

Ruth Krauss (Author), Julia Noonan (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1998 | Age Level: 4 and up

Join the fun as a mother and child play a loving game of hide-and-seek in this delightful re-release of Ruth Krausss story The Bundle Book. As baby hides beneath the blanket, Mother tries again and again to guess what in the world the bundle could be. Could it be a bundle of laundry . . . a bundle of carrots . . . a monkey? Young readers will delight in this familiar guessing game and its touching ending as the child cries, Its me! and Mother replies, And youre just what I need. This heartwarming story, brought to life with luminous full-color artwork, is perfect for all parents and young children to share.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Originally published in 1951 as The Bundle, Krauss's (The Carrot Seed; A Hole Is to Dig) text gets a new look with cozy illustrations by Noonan (Dreamland). A mother, pretending to be mystified by a toddler-sized lump under her blanket, tries to guess what it is: Laundry? A monkey? Humpty Dumpty? Krauss's uncanny ability to capture a child's cadence has the youngster responding with cumulative "no" replies, so that her mother's first question gets a " 'No,' the bundle replied," the second a "No, no" until finally the seventh wrong guess from the mother (" 'No, no, no, no, no, no, NO,' the bundle replied") leads her to give up?and the bundle yells, "It's ME!" Cartoonish songbirds, fuzzy stuffed animals and a pastel palette give the realistic illustrations a nostalgic, sentimental air; their luminous glow also lends softness to the characters' skin and a palpable fluffiness to the bedding. Children are likely to enjoy knowing?and finally seeing?what's under the blanket, helped even on first reading by the feet peeking out. The sweet simplicity of this hide-and-seek story loses nothing in nearly a half century; the illustrations may be on the sugary side, but the playful affection between mother and child shines through both text and illustrations. A free gift card is included in the inside cover. Ages 3-7.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

PreSA"One morning a mother saw a strange bundle under the blankets in her bed." So begins this charming story of a treasured moment between mother and child. In a familiar game, the woman tries to guess what this child-shaped object may be. A pile of laundry? A bunch of carrots? She is sure she doesn't need any of these things, and each time the squirming lump says, "No." Finally, a face pops out of the blanket and yells, "It's ME," and the two share a hug. In a perfect ending, the mother affirms, "It's you. AndAyou're just what I need." This story was originally published in 1951 as The Bundle Book. As with many of Krauss's titles, the proof of its classic status is the way young children still giggle at its gentle simplicity. Noonan's illustrations, in the soft pastel colors of the nursery, glow as if suffused with morning light. As the mother wonders about the contents of the bundle, an appealing stuffed puppy acts out her guesses, bringing an added touch of humor to the silly inquiries. Sure to be a toddlertime favorite.ALisa S. Murphy, formerly at Dauphin County Library System, Harrisburg, PA
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 40 pages
• Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers; First Edition edition (April 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060275146
• ISBN-13: 978-0060275143
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 9.4 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,597,317 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

This outstanding American illustrator and author was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1928, the son of Jewish immigrants from Poland. Sendak's career as an illustrator began after a stint as a window dresser. He illustrated more than 40 books between 1951 and 1962. Where the Wild Things Are--the book that made Sendak's name internationally, appeared in 1964, and its popularity has never waned.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars adorable story of love between mother and daughter, October 28, 2000

By 

christinemm - The Thinking Mother (Houston Texas USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: You're Just What I Need (Trophy Picture Books) (Paperback)

A lovely story of a toddler girl hiding under a blanket and playing a game of "what is under the blanket"? Mother makes many guesses as to what it can be and each response is "I don't need (the item)". At the end the girl pops out and declares the lump was "me" and then mother states that is just what she needed. This is very cute and shows love and typical interaction between a loving mother and adoring daughter. I have the board book version and I am sure it will get much repeated use. The theme of love between parent and child is not seen often enough in children's books and I am glad to see it in this book. Often books focus on the child, the child's activities, or objects (cars, trains, toys, etc.) rather than focusing on the expression and communication of love between parent and child.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Delightful Surprise, December 12, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: You're Just What I Need Board Book (Board book)

My 20 month old son has a very eclectic taste in the books he enjoys. I was surprised when he pulled this off of his book shelf amidst many other books. It is now the favorite book and we read it over and over and over again. The text is simple; the illustrations are realistic yet warm; and, we never grow tired of discussing the illustrations on each page. I think he enjoys it because of the above reasons, and because it is predictable, yet the "surprise" ending never becomes boring. This book is truly a "find."

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A touching portrait of mother and child, April 6, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: You're Just What I Need (Hardcover)

One morning a mother sees a strange bundle under the blankets on her bed. As she wonders aloud what it might be--a monkey? A bundle of carrots? Or Humpty-Dumpty?--the bundle proclaims "No, no, no, no, NO!" until finally it reveals itself: "It's ME!" cries the tousle-headed little toddler.

If you're a baby boomer, you might remember this book from your childhood. It was originally published in 1951 under the title "The Bundle Book." Here it is updated with a new title and brand new illustrations.

Purists, who flinch every time they see remakes of Disney classics like "The Absent-Minded Professor" and "The Parent Trap," will no doubt cringe when they hear that old books are being redone with new pictures. But, as nice as the original pale chalk and charcoal drawings were, they were not irreplaceable illustrations along the lines of Garth Williams' pencil sketches that accompany the "Little House" books. The story doesn't suffer at all, and the updated look just means a new generation of children will be exposed to a tender little story.

Noonan has illustrated the new book beautifully. The cover alone, a touching portrait of mother and child, makes this book stand out from others on the shelf. The rich pastel colors are as warm and inviting as the chenille bedspread under which the child hides.

I think this would make a nice gift for a new mother on Mother's Day and will be a book that toddlers want read over and over again.