Book Review: All Together Now
What Parents Should Know
The feeble story line lacks substance and cannot be salvaged
by the prose. Beautiful illustrations alone lend it
credibility.
Common Sense Media Review
The reader learns of a blended family that calls itself the
Honeys and consists of a mother rabbit, her bunny, a duck, and
a mouse. While it may be admirable to care for others in need,
there is no real indication as to why two of these animals
required adoption. Further, there is an absence of emotion and
a true sense of nurturing, care, and concern, which would be
expected within a family.
Second, the story fails in its effort to highlight the important differences among the group. Bunny runs, Duck swims, and Mouse plays "itchy-twitchy, squirly-whirly games." But the contest concludes with the whole group playing the "Great-Big-Feet-Game that they are all best at together." At this point, young readers begin to question both the sincerity of the story and the logic--obviously, the rabbits have the longest feet.
The most successful feature of the book is the watercolor-and-ink illustrations, which feature each character in a multitude of energetic poses. The soft greens and blues convey a sense of a safe, secure family in their forest home.
Guess How Much I Love You combines author/illustrator Anita Jeram's artwork with a more satisfying, award-winning bedtime classic. The well-known Are You My Mother? effectively addresses the conflict of a young offspring trying to locate its parent.
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