HOW FAR DO YOU LOVE ME?

BOOK OVERVIEW

Based on a bedtime game author/illustrator Lulu Delacre played with her young daughters, How Far Do You Love Me? is an “I love you” book with a twist. 

With every expression of love, readers visit one of thirteen different locations around the world, each a beautifully illustrated scene of adults and children in a place of natural beauty. 

I’ve always loved both my daughters, my love goes deep and far. But it wasn’t until my youngest daughter died, that I realized that I love her as much in death as I did in life. For me, this means that she still is. One day on a long walk in the neighborhood I thought of this permanent and invisible bond and I remembered a game we used to play when my girls were young. “¿Hasta dónde me amas? How far do you love me?,” either of them would ask. Back then, the game took us to the park, to the beach, to the school or all the way to the moon and sky. Each time we would try to outdo one another with words sprinkled with kisses and giggles. 

Remembering the childhood game and as well as the amazing places I’ve visited, gave birth to the Spanish version of the poem.  

ABOUT THE ART

Throughout the years I’ve had the opportunity to travel to many countries visiting places of breathtaking beauty. Many of these places have remained forever imprinted in my mind and heart. I used the images in my memory as well as photos I had taken in my travels to create the large format soft pastel illustrations. 

I spent many days over each piece, transported by the art to memorable places and fascinating peoples I had once visited. 

45 min. Lulu plays gentle games with the little ones, dances game-songs from her island of Puerto Rico with older kids, and takes the whole family in an imaginary voyage with the paintings and poetry of Us How Far Do you Love Me? A good choice for audiences with very young children.

reviews + AWARDS

Latinidad Best Latino Books for 2013
USBBY List 2014 Books to Celebrate International Children’s Book Day
Bank Street College of Education Best Books of 2013

"What a beautiful book! ... a volume that will be treasured by all." —Great Britain Association of School Librarians

“... a seven continent nod to spectacular geographic places that are as majestic as love itself." — Horn Book Guide

"... a new classic is born." – Katie Cunningham, Assistant Professor at Manhattanville College

“the illustrations are absolutely breathtaking!... a new family classic...” — WriterMom’sBlog

"Small and reminiscent of the emotional feel of The Runaway Bunny, this is an intimate bedtime book with a global theme." —Kirkus Reviews

" This topic is similarly explored in many classic picture books such as Sam McBratney’s Guess How Much I Love You and Margaret Wise Brown’s Runaway Bunny, but the multicultural worldview is unique." —School Library Journal

"A warm portrait of universal parental love....Lyrical responses combine with stunning double page illustrations.... tender book." —PBS Reading Rockets

“Delacre affirms that ‘how far do you love me?’ will always be a shared, unbound journey of endless love. —Smithsonian BookDragon

“...soft pastels and free style poetic language...” — IRA Reading Today Online

“I loved the different beautiful locations and the fact that fathers were also included.” —The European Mama

"Another work worthy of notable recognition.” —Mamiverse

"A peaceful bedtime story." —Phyllis Kennemer, Ph.D., Children's Literature

"Delacre has rewarded parents and young children with a stellar bedtime story."—Books of Wonder and Wisdom.

"A wonderful book to share with a special child at bed time or anytime."—Texas Library Lady

“Lulu Delacre’s prose is almost as majestic as the illustrations she created.”— Kids Book Ratings

"Here’s a book Kate Middleton might read to her new baby."—An Unconventional Librarian

"A fantastic spin on the proverbial ‘I love you to the moon and back’." —Goodreads

“They say that picture books are a child’s first introduction to art, and this book is a great example.” — It’s a Writer’s Life

“Perfect for preschoolers.”—I’m Not the Nanny