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I Love You the Purplest
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 M...more
Barbara Joosse's heartwarming text is beautifully complimented by M...more
Hardcover, 32 pages
Published
September 1st 1996
by Chronicle Books
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I actually snuck-read this book when I was sorting the Scholastic order last night. I loved it! This book displays how a mother can love both her children- who are nothing alike- to the same degree. Her sons are competing for their mothers attention and love during a fishing trip one day, and the mother is able to pull out and focus on their individual strengths and tell them how they are both special in their own way. One son is much more reserved and focused, and the mother explains how she lo...more
This book is destined to be a long-lived classic.
The illustrations are wonderful watercolors that would stand alone as beautiful paintings.
The story is perfect. Anyone who has more than one child can understand and appreciate. Since the first time we read this, my wife and I still refer to it when we kiss the children goodnight. Sometimes we use the examples in this book ("I love you the bluest" "I love you the redest") and sometimes we make up our own.
And on top of all this, there is also a nic...more
The illustrations are wonderful watercolors that would stand alone as beautiful paintings.
The story is perfect. Anyone who has more than one child can understand and appreciate. Since the first time we read this, my wife and I still refer to it when we kiss the children goodnight. Sometimes we use the examples in this book ("I love you the bluest" "I love you the redest") and sometimes we make up our own.
And on top of all this, there is also a nic...more
I have read this many times and just reread to my class today. It is the story of a mother's love...told through simple, yet almost poetic language and gorgeous watercolor illustrations. The two brothers keep asking their mom who is the best and who she loves the most. She responds cleverly, highlighting the fact that she loves them both, equally but differently because they are different. One she loves the bluest; the other the reddest.
****
For the past couple of years, I have used this as a spr...more
****
For the past couple of years, I have used this as a spr...more
I'll admit it. I think this book is a little syrupy. The mother is just too too patient with her ultra-competitive little ones. All they care about is being the best, and yet, she always manages to have the answer which avoids choosing favorites. (Frankly, she sets a standard that's hard to live up to.) Neither son is the best rower - one rows deep, the other rows fast. Neither is the best fisherman - one gets more fish, but the other got the smart fish. And so on.
And yet, despite the fact that...more
And yet, despite the fact that...more
This book is one of the reasons I chose the name Max for my second child. I had a first child who was so easy and calm that I knew my second had to be the opposite. A few years ago a friend of mine found this book and changed all the Julians to Carters so when we read this book it is Carter and Max. Perfect!!
Summary: Two brothers, Max and Julian, go out fishing with their mother. They compete and ask their mother who is the best at worm catching, fishing, and rowing. To each question she points out how each boy is best at a different part of the activity. Finally, when they are in bed, they boys each ask who she loves the most and she tells Max she loves him the reddest, and Julian that she loves him the bluest, describing features of each of the colors that make the boys feel full of love and joy.
E...more
E...more
I remember when, it was either in 4th grade or 2nd grade or something, my teacher read this book to us and I absolutely adored it. It is my FAVORITE picture book that there ever was, is, or will be!
This book is a great way to show students that although different, two people or any two things can be loved in their own way. The mother in the book had two sons who loved each one equally, but complimented each one's tasks differently, making sure not to discourage the other.
After reading this book, have the students discuss in a small group which two things they love, but love differently because of what they do. Examples may include: two toys, two pets, two siblings, two books, two games. Th...more
After reading this book, have the students discuss in a small group which two things they love, but love differently because of what they do. Examples may include: two toys, two pets, two siblings, two books, two games. Th...more
When Julian and Max go to the cabin with their mother, they try to get her to say who she likes best. Using red and blue imagery, their mother is able to describe how she loves both of the boys differently. The words paint vivid pictures, “Max exploded from the cabin”.
Even when trying to corner their mother into describing who has the most fishing worms, the clever mother answers positively to both boys by answering, “Max, your can is full of the liveliest worms. And Julian, your can has the ju...more
Even when trying to corner their mother into describing who has the most fishing worms, the clever mother answers positively to both boys by answering, “Max, your can is full of the liveliest worms. And Julian, your can has the ju...more
This charming book tells the story of a Mama who goes fishing with her two small and very competitive sons. The boys want to know who got the most worms and who is the best rower. Later, at bedtime, each son whispers a question to his mother: Who do you love the best, Mama? Throughout, the mother is calm and joyous in answering her sons. She says that one son’s worms are the liveliest and the other’s are the juiciest. One son rows deepest and the other rows fastest. And finally, she loves one so...more
I appreciate how detailed this book is written. I think it's sweet that the mother makes it very clear that she doesn't just love them the same, but she loves both of them the best. This book sends the message that one way is not always better than the other, just different. This would be a great story to read if competition becomes a problem in the classroom. This would not be interesting enough, however, for younger children to read on their own, but could be captivating as a read-aloud. A stu...more
This book uses many great descriptive words, and very realistic illustrations. It is a great book to read to young children that have siblings that are close in age to them and might be wondering about how their parents feel about them. At this age, children are constantly competing with siblings, and trying to impress their parents; this book makes children understand that their parents love them the same, and each child has a uniqueness to them that can't be compared to his/her brother or sist...more
This is one of my all time favorite children's books. This is about a mother who tells her two boys the different ways that she loves each of them. I would always change the names in the book depending on which child I was reading this book to, and my children loved it. It shows us that we do not need to love people in the same way, we can love people differently, but equally. This is a book that I will always treasure and pass on to many future generations. The artwork and colors used are also...more
This book has beautiful illustrations and shows a mother's love in a creative way. The mother celebrates the differences in her two sons and when they ask her who she loves more she explains what she loves in each of them- one loves red and one loves blue and she describes their special qualities within those color ranges and so she loves them "purplest". It would be great to add to an about me or beginning of the year theme- or family love- maybe for those children with new brothers or sisters...more
Aug 30, 2011
Jodi Young
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Shelves:
family,
fun,
vocabulary,
self-esteem-self-worth,
motivation,
love,
competition,
shapes-colors
This story was sweet. It was very descriptive including words and phrases, and it had many different verbs that students could take and incorporate in their own writing. This story can also be used to talk about competition amongst friends and family and how a little bit is healthy as long as it doesnt get too crazy. The mother in this story was able to build her boys up while not letting the other down. The colors in this story were beautiful and can be discussed and most of all the vocabulary...more
This story is about two brothers who go on an outing with their mom. The story takes place in the woods, which is an ideal setting to include vivid details. While the boys are out exploring and competing for their mothers' approval they use a colorful array of verbs and adjectives. I would recommend this book for grades 2nd through 5th. The students can use the book to identify the verbs and the adjectives and can also create their own story that mirrors Joosse's use of adjectives and verbs.
This book is great for children with siblings that may be curious about the way their parent(s) feel about him/her. The book uses many good descriptive words and has good illustrations as well. Many people may be able to relate to this book, including myself, as my sister and I used to ask many similar questions to our parents as well. Overall, this book has a good moral and theme and can see that everyone is good at different things in different ways.
Sweet story of how a mother's love for her children can be equal but different. Draws forth the qualities that makes each child unique and how the mother loves those aspects "best" in each child, but loves both children with equal strength and attachment. A touching and thoughtful story with a fun, loving and clever mother (I thought it was great that she goes fishing with her boys) and great for competitive siblings who might wonder who mom or dad loves most!
This is a great book to teach imaging and visualizing to students with. The text is extremely descriptive which allows for the mind to paint a picture of what is happening in the story. This is a comforting book of how a mom sees the best qualities in bother of her sons, even though they are different (neither boy is better than the other). Each page is full of beautiful,soft illustrations.
This book is so endearing and pleasant. It gives you warm feelings inside as you read it. It would be great to use to review all of the colors and what emotion we feel as we think of a certain color. It is also very descriptive and could be used to inspire a poem in children after they hear the book while writing about someone that they love and the words they would describe that person with.
Two young boys compete at everything and are constantly asking Mom who's better at everything. As Mom is tucking them in, they wonder who Mom loves the most. She, of course, points out that she loves them equally. This book is a nice one for pointing out that everyone has strengths and weaknesses and that we don't have to pick favorites.
A mother and her two sons do different activities and the boys want to know who is the best at each activity. The mother finds different strengths that each child has and tells them how great they are. Very good book for building sense of self. If students are not confident, you could use this book to show them that they are great at many things.
This book was from an award-winning author so it was a great story. This was a very touching story about a mother loving her two boys. This would be a good book for a mother or father to read to their children. I would have it kept in my classroom library but I probably would not do a read-aloud on this book to the entire class.
Sibling rivalry is neutralized as a mother aptly explains how she loves each son for his own unique set of traits. A beautiful tribute to the unconditional love of a mother and her ability to love her children equally. The watercolor illustrations are superb and realistic with portrait-like characterization
This is such a sweet family book that shows how the mother loves her children equally. At first time, I did not know why the author titled the book '...Purplest', however, the ending part of the story 'red+blue=purple' melted my heart. This book can help students to build self-confidence and adjectives.
This is a story about a mother and her two sons. They go out on a little adventure and the boys are competing to see who mama loves the best. This story has really great uses of adjectives. It's also a good book to use for second and third graders to introduce the suffixes -est and -er.
Is about a mother and her two sons Max and Julian. They both know that their mother loved them but they always asked her who she loves the best. She used different words to describe the way they did things. Like one rowed the boat the fastest but the other row the longest.
Cute book about brothers trying to one up each other and their mother showing that they both have strengths. Thought great idea about how we all are special and good at certain things. Good for inspiring hesitant students or to get them to look for their own strengths.
Such a sweet story about a mother who highlights each of her sons best attributes. Good for self confidence building, have kids write cards to each other highlighting their peers best traits. Also great for teachers to remember how to creatively and impactfully compliment and encourage their students.
This is a cute book where a mother associates her love for her children with colors. This book could be used with any elementary classroom to help children think of ways in which to discribe someone or something they love.
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Barbara Joosse has written many books for children. Among them are Mama, Do You Love Me?, illustrated by Barbara Lavallee; and I Love You the Purplest, illustrated by Mary Whyte. She says, "When I was a little girl, I wished for two things — a best friend, and something so ferocious it would scare away the monsters under my bed. And so I have written Lovabye Dragon. I think maybe it’s for little m...more
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