I Love You the Purplest

by Barbara M. Joosse

Classic read-aloud story now available as a sturdy board book

Book addresses unconditional love and sibling rivalry in kind and gentle Early in the evening two young brothers and their mama finish supper in their red cabin and set out to fish. While digging for worms, rowing the boat, and pulling in fish, each brother asks his mama who is the best at each task, and as they are tucked into bed, which one she loves the best. Readers will delight in the tender message that every child holds a special place in a parent's heart. Fans of Barbara Joosse's bestselling books Mama, Do You Love Me? and Papa, Do You Love Me? will adore I Love You the Purplest 's celebration of parental love and the unique qualities that make every child special.

Heartwarming book provides a poetic and comforting answer to a universal sibling Who do you love more?

Genres: Picture Books, Family, Childrens, Love, Realistic Fiction, Fiction, Emotion

24 pages, Board Book

First published September 1, 1995

About the author

[Author also goes by the name Barbara Joosse.]

Barbara M. 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 me." Barbara Josse lives in Wisconsin.

Reviews

[Kathryn]

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!

[Cheryl]

I'm not sure all children experience sibling rivalry, and I definitely don't know how many actually raise the question directly to their parent... but if yours do, check this book out on openlibrary.org!

[Camille Tate]

yes I am reading my picture books in an attempt to hit my 2023 reading goal. besides this book was written for adults anyway

[Daniel]

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 nice element of teaching colors ... the color purple is never mentioned in the book, so why is it called "I Love You the Purplest"?

Wonderful, wonderful.

[Sarah Frobisher]

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 loves that about him; while her other son is more impulsive and carefree and she loves him for that as well. It is a heartwarming story of the unconditional love of a mother for her children.

[Jana]

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!!

[Shayne]

Love this book having a sister who is very different from me and two boys of my own, I can understand how the mother loves them equally but differently. Even though I know I am my parents favorite child! :)

[L.A.]

Super helpful message for my 3-year-old! I’m not sure about the “purplest” part though—and I do understand red and blue make purple. Some other title may have been more effective for children; especially since my toddler likes purple, and this book isn’t about purple really.

[Rebekah]

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!

[Kayla Miller]

I Love You the Purplest is a great contemporary fiction book. It is about a mother and her two sons who spend the day together doing activities such as catching worms and fishing. The boys throughout the day are continuously asking their mother which one is doing the best, caught the most fish, or who she simply loves more. The mother, however, always finds a way to show that she loves both of her sons equally. This is a great book to read to siblings for them to understand that they should not feel as though they should compete against one another because their parents will love them both no matter what.

The imagery in this book does a great job to set the loving, happy mood. The imagery style is mostly impressionistic making each page seem to light up. This adds to the gleeful mood that the book sets up with the family being happy that they are together. The book also has a lot of the colors red and blue, which are also the colors the mother tells her sons that she loves them as. This is very fitting since blue portrays a calming nature and red portrays warmth. These are both feelings that people have when they think of love between family members and these are both feelings that the reader feels when he or she reads the book. The images really do a great part of bring the text to life so the reader can feel more of a connection to the book, the characters, and the love they show.

[Kendra]

I Love You the Purplest by Barbara Joosse was a story about the love that a mother gives to her two sons. It begins with a mother following her two sons out the door, on their way to go fishing. The boys, most likely twins, ask their mother who was the best at catching worms for bait. The mother replies with two positive things about each of the boys' catches. Once they are on the lake, the boys as their mother who is the best at rowing. She responds with Julian's rowing is the deepest, and Max's rowing is the fastest. After they are done fishing one of the boys has caught three fish and the other boy only caught one. Max asks his mother if he was the best at fishing, but she responds with a positive thing to say about each of the boys. At night the boys ask who she loves the most, but how can she answer, still making both of them feel like the most special boy?

This book enveloped the genre of contemporary fiction. It pertained to a real-life situation that many families go through on a daily basis. Especially if that family has two siblings close in age. Children consistently feel as though they are competing for love from their mother or father when they are young. this is a contemporary issue, even though it isn't a very controversial one. It teaches parents who read this to their children, ways to boost both their children's morale. It also teaches children that no matter what happens, a parent will love you just as much as they love your sibling, it is just a different kind of love.

[Barbara]

More than twenty years after it was first published in its original format in 1996, this board book version of a classic is still just as relevant as it was back then. Sunny watercolor illustrations complement a story of unconditional love. As two boys and their mother go fishing, each child tries to outdo the other. The questions Max and Julian ask might seem to be easy to answer on the surface, but it's clear that both boys are seeking reassurance of their mother's love. When they return home and are being tucked in, first, Julian and then Max wonder who she loves best. This mother is no fool, and she provides just the perfect answer. All three of them are able to sleep well that night, safe and secure in the knowledge that they love and are loved by those around them.

[Stacy Leicht]

This book has been on my shelf for many years. As a mother, I read the book to my two children because their personalities were similar to the characters in the book. As an educator, I used to read this book to my students and ask them to create a poem about someone they loved based on colors that described the personality of that person. Then, we would use watercolors to create paintings to go along with the poetry for our loved ones. When the students presented their gifts, they were overjoyed and proud of themselves. This book will always have a special place in my heart!

I can't remember the date I started reading it, but there will not be an ending date because I'll read it to my grandchildren and other littles in my life.

[Seth Schleicher]

Book Title: I Love You the Purplest
Author/Illustrator: Mary Whyte
Reading Level: 3.4

Book Level: O

Book Summary: Two brothers create a rivalry over their mother’s love. The mother uses creative examples to respond to both boys in different ways she loves them.

Bookshelf Mentor Writing Traits:

Word choice:
Students will make lists of different colors and then write items or objects that are those colors in each list. They will be provided with a list of colorful imagery, which uses rich language examples, in order to think about the importance of thoughtful color imagery. Students will create a poem about colors using a guided template.

[Rose Rosetree]

It's tempting, really tempting, to call Barbara M. Joosse the Queen of Purple Prose for preschoolers. But that wouldn't be fair, would it?

I can't think of any other author who writes book after book with characters who keep demanding mushy answers from a parent, or grandmother. One at a time, the two brothers in this story keep asking their mother variations on the same question: "Who do you love the best?"

If declarations of love are your jam, you're going to adore this book.

In your honor, since you're the intended audience (rather than me) I'll rate this book on your behalf: FIVE VERY PERKY STARS.

[Abby Ambrose]

Lexile: 600L
DRA: 34
Six Traits: Sentence Fluency
My mom used to read this book to me a lot when I was a kid. I remember loving the way the sentences read out loud, and the idea that my mom could love both of my siblings as equally, but differently, than me. What a beautiful book!

[Heidi]

My girls and I read this when they were struggling with "whose your favorite," now our routine at night I say to them both is "I love you the purplest," and its the sweetest tradition. So grateful for this book when we needed it.

[Shobana]

How to answer the question “who do you love the most”?
Practical way to answer such tough questions without causing jealousy. A must read for all parents ☺️ and any one who deal with more than one kid!!

[Emily Griswold Bunty]

A book that gently handles rivalry between siblings and showcases a parent’s unconditional love.

Beautiful watercolor illustrations! Their use of light, and expressions in the boys’ and mothers faces convert so much tender emotion.

[Chloe Bolduc]

This book is wonderful as it shows the competition that children typically feel towards each other, especially between siblings, and the sweet reactions from the mother show how there are always unique qualities to be celebrated.

[Steph]

I want to be fair. I am not a parent, but this is super corny to me. Maybe if I ever have a child I will come back to edit my review. =)

[Shaye Miller]

Beautifully written story of the love a mother holds for her two children. The framable illustrations are rendered in watercolor.

[Celebrilomiel]

2.5 stars

[Linda]

A mother takes her two sons fishing, then at bedtime tells each boy how much she loves him, using colors and beautiful images. Wonderful watercolor paintings by Mary Whyte.

[Colorado Buck]

this is a classic. the 2 kidsare fighting about who the mom will like the most / better. she comes up with a clever reply for both of them each time.

[Cecile]

A boy mom book, beautiful and lovely. My daughter was not at all interested, but I cherished it.

[Mary-carol Riehs]

I love this book so much. How can you explain to those you love that they are all your "favorite"? That, unlike old Facebook, there's no Top 5? Read this gentle, insightful book.

[Suzanne Lorraine Kunz Williams]

I love the concept in this book that we each have our own different styles and talents and we are each loved for being us.

[Vera-Michele]

4/5

Working in a school has me reading all kinds of children's books. I really did enjoy this one. I had to use it for a lesson in metaphors.

[Jenniferpawlik]

Sweet book with gorgeous illustrations.