Gentle readers,
Welcome or welcome back to the second day of my “31 Days of Children’s Books” writing challenge. So far, so good. With this post I will have written two in a row. Yay, me! Two down, and…I hate math…29 posts to go?
I have been thinking about this topic. My first inclination was to share fall books. But to be honest, I am not sure there are 31 fall-themed children’s books that I can get that excited about. Instead, I have decided to review books that I truly love, some might even be Christmas (a little early) books. I just want to honestly say I love and recommend the books I share. I mean, who wants to read post after post of reviews on crappy books? Who wants to write post after post of reviews about crappy books. So we’re good? Good!
When I found out I was pregnant with Lauren, I prayed she would be a boy. I loved Brennyn SO MUCH that I couldn’t imagine loving another little girl as much. But God knew better. I had a beautiful baby girl anyway. And guess what I found out? Yup, my heart just grew, and grew and grew and filled with that much more love…just like my friend, the Grinch.
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If you have children or fur babies, maybe you have experienced that same concern. Or maybe someone has asked which of your dogs you like best, which child you are closest to? Maybe one of your babies has accused you of loving their sibling more than you love them?
Barbara M. Joose’s book I Love You the Purplest provides the perfect response to the question, “Mama, who do you love best?” Mary Whyte’s soothing water color washes gently illustrate the relationship between a mother and her two young sons as they enjoy a day’s activities together.
The story begins as Max explodes from their cabin and the trio heads out for a morning of fishing. Julian shuts the door behind them carefully, to keep their home safe from “burglars and bears” [p. 2] Julian sieves through the dirt to find the fattest worms for bait while Max flings dirt into the air, filling his bait can quickly with worms of every size. “Mama, who has the most worms?” asks Max.
Julian rows with wide, even strokes, his blue boots planted firmly on the bottom of their boat. Max “brace[s] his red boots against the ribs of the boat and stroke[s] quickly through the water”. Julian gasps, “Mama, who’s the best rower?”
And so the book continues, with mama answering the boys’ questions diplomatically…”Why, Julian, you took the deepest strokes. And Max, your strokes were fastest” [p. 11]
That evening, as mama tucks her boys into bed, both whisper “Mama, who do you love best?” And mama replies with the most beautiful response. Julian, her blue son, and Max, her red son, both fall asleep feeling completely and totally loved and adored.
I love this book. Truly. Love. And if I haven’t yet convinced you to dash to your public library to check this book out, please read the Booklist review of I Love You the Purplest:
The setting is idyllic as two brothers and their Mama go fishing in the lake near their cabin until stars sprinkle the sky and the water turns dark as night. Max is boisterous; Julian is quieter and both of them are rivals for their mother’s attention and her love. Who’s the best fisherman? they ask Who’s the best rower? At the end of the day, who does Mama love the best? Each time she answers them to show that she loves them both for their own special selves. Whyte’s double-page-spread watercolors show the warm family scenes in a landscape filled with light and color. A soft affectionate story to confront the hard edges of sibling rivalry. —BOOKLIST, October 15, 1996
Are you grabbing your purse, your keys and running out the door now? Save yourself a trip to the library and pick up a copy of the book at Amazon.com, here.
I Love You the Purplest is written on a 3.4 (third grade, fourth month) reading level. Learn more about Barbara M. Joose on her webpage, here. And check out some of her other equally tender, lovely books while you are there. Won’t you let me know if you read this book? Would love to read and share your review!
I think, I hope, my Brennyn Alexis and my Lauren Allegra and even my Cadence Ellie and my Lucia Carolina all know that I love each of them, the purplest.
And, with that, Day 2 is in the bag!
Wishing you a restful Sunday.
Hugs and kisses,
Sheila DelCharco
I love this book! When I decluttered my children’s books, this one survived the cut. It’s waiting patiently on my shelves for when I have grandkids. I had even allocated colors to my two boys so when I bought matching but not the same color shirts, Tommy would get red and Timothy would get blue. Or was it the other way around? Can’t remember…
~Sheila
Making the Most of Every Day
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Just makes perfect sense that you would love this book, too. My girls have alternated between red and blue but I have always loved them the purplest. You are precious.
Mary
I have heard of this book, but have never read it-what a beautiful message! I will have to see if our school library has this one.
Thanks! 🙂 And yes Leslie, I am still teaching 2nd grade-I had a choice at the end of last year-go back to 1st, stay in 2nd, or 5th grade (no way!). I chose to stay in 2nd-I love all the reading they can do and besides, with my friend’s great book shopping advice, I have the BEST classroom library! :). They love the “Gus and Grandpa” series, “Don’t Go In There…” series, and of course-my new FAV-“The Buddy Files”. You gave me such great ideas! Looking forward to more suggestions! 🙂 Love ya girlfriend!
Leslie Roberts Clingan
So glad you stayed in second. In my opinion, it is the best grade. Kids are still sweet and respectful. They are eager to learn. So glad you are enjoying second. You are so sweet to tell me about how your kids are enjoying the library you built for them. The Buddy Files are some of my favorite easy chapter books. Thank you so much for making this old librarian feel useful. Love you right back, sweet friend.
Joy
What a great series Leslie! I will have to pass it along your recommendation to a friend of mine with a little grandson.
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Thank you, Joy! And thank you for passing along my series to your friend. Always excited to have a new reader.
Jill
What a great message in that book! The illustrations are beautiful!
Jill
Doused In Pink
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Oh, the illustrations are lovely in I Love You Purplest. And I didn’t even share the best ones!!
Whitney @ Whitney à la mode
This is so well-timed! My sister is pregnant with her second (a boy!) and I just can’t fathom how I will love him as much as I love my niece, Eloise! I know that I will but still… I’m going to keep this book in mind for the two of them!
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Our hearts just expand to hold more love. I think it is less worrisome when the two children are different genders. I loved my oldest daughter so much that I couldn’t imagine loving another little girl like I loved Brennyn. But my daughters are so different that it was easy to love each for the person she was. Congrats on your soon-to-be nephew. XO
VALERIE PRICE
Do you love me the bluest and Kevin the greenest? Actually you are the greenest, what would ole Kev be? I do love this book and I am almost positive you gave this to me when I had Andrew.. I know I have it and I am sure it was from you. Now I love Trey the Earthliest and Andrew the Heavenliest. Can’t wait to see what is next!
Leslie Roberts Clingan
I think Kevin would be the orangest. I think I did give this book to you and to Metra. I am surprised how many of my friends are familiar with it. Always felt like it was just a little known jewel. Thank you for the suggestion of Winnie. I love that book now, too.
Karla Cook
That is one of my favorite picture books! I worked as an assistant children’s librarian at our public library in Kansas when my two girls were very small. It was great because I was able to work evenings when their daddy could be home with them. It was my favorite job ever. When I had to quit because we were moving to Idaho, the children’s librarian bought this book for the library and put a dedication plate in it in honor of me! I just love knowing that. And, like Sheila, I still have our copy, even though my girls are now 21 and 23.
Lana
So excited to see this book on your blog. It’s one of my very favorites, and it was read over and over to my boys when they were little. Makes me a little teary just thinking of it now!
Leslie Roberts Clingan
I am so surprised at how many of my sweet mama friends know this book. I thought it was an obscure little jewel but apparently not. Love that you read it over and over to your boys.