Big Nutbrown Hare and his son, Little Nutbrown Hare, have what appears to be a bit of a rivalry going on. The issue? Who loves the other the most.
Regardless of the seeming competition, the real issue is simply love and the urge to express it in terms young children can understand.
Throughout the book, as the youngster gets ready to bed down for the night, the two compete over whose love is greatest, with descriptions of their love expressed in ever-increasing physical terms—-from here to the river, as tall as the tree and more—-etc., terms children can visualize.
As Little Nutbrown Hare drifts off to sleep, the father gets the final word and wins, as it were, the competition. That’s as it should be, of course, because as parents we know that nothing, absolutely nothing, exceeds the love we have for our children.
The book has plenty of charming and touching illustrations of the father and son cavorting, competing, getting ready for sleep. The book is especially good for the under-5 set but this isone of those stories that children of all ages can enjoy. It’s got a soothing, gentle touch.
I also like this book because it’s about a father’s love, since so many kids books focus on mothers.