Early in the evening two young brothers and their mama finish supper in the sturdy red cabin and set out to fish. While digging for worms, rowing the boat and pulling in fish, each brother asks his mama which one is the best at each task and, as they are being tucked into bed, which one she loves the best. Barbara Joosse's heartwarming text is beautifully complimented by Mary Whyte's engaging watercolor illustrations. Readers will delight in the tender message that every child holds a special place in a parent's heart. (Amazon)
Review by Polly Carlson
We were first introduced to Barbara M. Joosse's books when my daughter's birth mom gave her Mama, Do You Love Me? as a baby. Since then we've fallen in love with many of her books and own 4 or 5 of them.
As much as we love Barbara Joosse's other books, I Love You the Purplest by Barbara M. Joosse is one of my all-time favorite children's picture books...EVER.
It's the story of a mother who takes her two boys (either fraternal twins or similar in age...we're not told) fishing. Throughout the story, they're competing for their mama's attention and praise, but Mama cleverly chooses her words to help both boys feel accomplished and important. At the end of the book as she's tucking them into bed, each boy whispers in her ear to ask who she loves the best. To one she says she loves him the reddest and goes on to describe red things that remind her of his fiery personality.
To the other she tells him that she loves him the bluest, and goes on to describe a number of blue things that remind her of his more tranquil personality. Hence the name, "I Love You the Purplest."
This is one of my favorite books to read to my son at naptime. It's always a good reminder for me, as a parent, to appreciate the individual personalities that my children have and to help them feel loved for the individuals that they are. It's an especially good book to read when we've have a rough morning. It often leads to a game of "I love you the reddest!" "Well, I love you the pinkest!" "Well I love you the rainbowest!" etc. It always puts a smile on our faces.
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To learn more about the author, visit: Barbara M. Joosse
2 comments:
Thanks so much for your wonderful site. This is definitely our favorite kids book.
This book sounds wonderful! My little girls would love it, and so would I, I think. Thank you for a great review!
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