AUTHOR: Barbara M. Joosse
ILLUSTRATOR: Mary Whyte
ISBN#: 978-0-8118-0718-0
PUBLISHER/YEAR: Chronicle Books (September 1, 1996)
SUBJECTS: Single Parent, Brothers, Mothers and Sons, Fishing, Sibling Rivalry, Individuality
READER LEVEL: PICTURE BOOK
RATING: ****
Review
Highlights:
Laugh Meter
|
not a comedy |
giggles |
laugh out loud |
can’t stop laughing |
Fear Factor
|
no fear |
needs explanation |
cover the eyes |
bad dreams |
Subject Matter
|
light : “G” |
mild concerns |
caution ahead |
needs supervision |
This is a beautiful, quiet story about a mom and her two twin sons, Max and Julian. When the boys ask, "Mama, who do you love the best?", this soothing story is their answer.
Throughout this account of a twilight fishing expedition, the boys jockey for Mama's attention and clamor to have her admit which one of them is best.
Joose's prose is spare yet descriptive. Mama cleverly tells them all about their different, but very equal, qualities. When Max catches three fish and Julian one, Mama exclaims, "... (Max) what a bountiful fisherman you are," and then tells Julian, "...you're the cleverest. Your fish hid in the weeds, but you waited."
The story moves along with scenes like this until they go to bed. As Mama tucks them in, the boys ask the biggest question parents have been asked by siblings throughout the ages, "Mama, who do you love the best?" Mama's response is Joose's prettiest prose about how she loves Julian the bluest and Max the reddest, which incidentily matches the personalities of the two little boys that the author has developed so fully and in so few words.
I Love You The Purplest would make any child feel loved just listening to the tranquil language, which combines with pretty portrait-like illustrations. This story would make a perfect bedtime story. It would also help any child who is wondering if they are as loved as their siblings. Finally, it is a very positive role-model of a possible single mom. I say possible, because it seems likely she is a single mom, although there is no discussion of it.
IF YOU LIKED THIS, TRY:
MAMA, DO YOU LOVE ME?, Barbara M. Joose
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