About This Book
Reach for this book when you want to wrap your child in a verbal hug or establish a soothing, affectionate bedtime routine. It serves as a gentle anchor for children who need reassurance of their place in your heart, especially during times of transition or when they are testing their own independence. The story follows a sweet competition between Little Nutbrown Hare and Big Nutbrown Hare as they try to outdo each other in describing the size of their love. Beyond the charming animal characters, it explores the concept of 'more than' through physical measurements, nature, and space. It is a perfect choice for toddlers and preschoolers because it transforms the abstract concept of love into tangible, playful actions that even the youngest child can grasp. Parents choose this to reinforce the bond of unconditional love and to end the day on a note of absolute security.
What Parents Should Know
Sensitive Topics
None.
Ideal Reader
A 3-year-old who is beginning to explore the world and needs a consistent 'home base' of affection. It is also wonderful for a child who has recently experienced a life change, like a new sibling or a first day of school, and needs a reminder that their parent's love is vast and unchanging.
Parent Prep
This book can be read cold. It is designed to be read slowly, mirroring the pace of a child falling asleep. A parent might reach for this after a long, difficult day where they felt disconnected from their child, or when a child asks 'How much do you love me?'
Age Experience
For a 2-year-old, this is a physical book: they will want to stretch their arms and hop along with the characters. For a 5-year-old, the book introduces the early mathematical and philosophical concept of infinity and the idea that some things, like love, cannot be fully measured.
What Makes It Special
While many books focus on the 'I love you' sentiment, this one turns it into a playful dialogue. It gamifies affection in a way that feels natural to a child's developmental stage, making love feel like a shared activity rather than just a stated fact.
Read plot summary
Little Nutbrown Hare is getting ready for bed and wants to tell Big Nutbrown Hare how much he loves him. He stretches his arms wide, hops high, and reaches for the sky, but every time he finds a way to measure his love, Big Nutbrown Hare finds a way to measure it even further. The story ends with Little Nutbrown Hare falling asleep, having declared his love reaches all the way to the moon, and Big Nutbrown Hare whispering that his love goes to the moon and back.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.
Discussion Prompts
1
Little Nutbrown Hare tried to show his love by reaching his arms out wide. Can you show me with your body how big your love is?
2
Big Nutbrown Hare can reach higher because he is bigger, but does that mean he loves more? How do we know they both love each other very much?
3
Little Nutbrown Hare looked at the sky and the moon. What are some other big things in the world we could use to describe love?
4
Why do you think Big Nutbrown Hare waited until Little Nutbrown Hare was asleep to say 'and back'?
