When Burton was a tiny baby there were a handful of stories which I would enjoy reading to him over and over again. One of them was Guess How Much I Love You by Sam McBratney. I used to love reading this simple little tale of love between a parent and his young child, each describing how much they loved each other and the older hare always out witting his little hare at every love you declaration. I have to admit, back then when it was just me reading this story to my new (and first) born, it would bring tears to my eyes because it replicated how much I did love my little baby boy.
Well, can you believe that this classic childrens story is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year? To celebrate this fact the book has been published in special 20th anniversary editions. I love the foreward at the start of this special edition written by the author where she writes:
I’d like to share with you one comment a father sent me. He wrote :
“On good nights my little girl loves me all the way to the moon, but on bad nights she only loves me to the door”
If you’re a parent (or a grandparent like myself), here’s hoping that you mostly make it to the moon.
And back…..
The boys have enjoyed reading this updated version of the book and looking at the gorgeous illustrations, and there is even a mini pop up version which Burton read aloud as I made tea.
I thought it would be fun to have a Guess How Much I Love You tea party after school for the boys. Taking the story as inspiration, I came up with this
The plate consists of:
*Nut Brown Hare Sandwich – ham ears, sausage nose, cucumber whiskers and raisin eyes
*Carrots
*Sticks – bread ones of course!
*The Moon (as in I love you tight up to the moon and back) – babybel cheese
*Hare Droppings – raisins
*Little Nut Brown Hare Gingerbread Pop
Both boys enjoyed tucking in and they even tried some raw carrots – ok, so they didn’t eat more than a bite but that is the first time I have managed to get them to try raw ones!!
As an extra treat, the boys were allowed a small slice of homemade carrot cake – because as everyone knows all little Nut Brown Hares enjoy a cake made from carrots!! Ths was another revelation because again both boys enjoyed it – for the first time ever they both liked carrot cake!! Wooo hooo !
A sucessful tea party it seems – yay! Sometimes it can make a difference making food more appealing by basing it on a book , or a favourite film or TV show. I still cannot get over the boys trying some raw carrot and enjoying carrot cake!!!
Guess How Much I Love You is a wonderful story and I will never tire telling my two how much I love them ……. even if some days I too will probably only make it as far as their bedroom door and back!!
I was sent some Guess How Much I Love You goodies for the purpose of a review
I love this book too! And whoop whoop, the boys ate carrot cake!
It was a momentous moment lol x
This was one of the first books I bought when my daughter was born (she will be 20 this month) and my son, who was 2 loved it. A little while later Toy Story was the first film he ever went to see, and after that when we got to the end of the story he would say ” I love you to infinity and beyond!” in the Buzz voice. It’s one of the few books I have kept for my grandchildren…although I’m hoping that won’t be for a few years yet. I’m so glad little ones are still enjoying this book.