Within a Sky Full of Earth

If you come to Bloom during these days you might hear at our sound speakers the story of Little and Big Nutbrown Hare, a love story written by Sam McBratney and illustrated by Anita Jeram in 1994. The book is called "Guess How Much I Love You" and it's the best book in the world. We have some of the different versions made available by the english publisher, Walker Books. The one that is playing now is the CD that comes along with paperback version.

I love you right up to the moon - and back.

The story of Little and Big Nutbrown Hares' efforts to express their love for each other has become a publishing phenomenon, selling more than 18 million copies worldwide. First published nearly 15 years ago, these lovely editions are either for children or adults and they can make the best present of all time.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Sam McBratney
In his own words, Sam spent his postwar childhood "in short trousers and Fair Isle jumpers." He remembers studying for his 11-plus exam, before going to grammar school, and then on to study History and Political Science at Trinity College in Dublin.
Sam became a teacher and taught at a further education college, a grammar school and a primary school. He took early retirement from the teaching profession to concentrate on his career as a writer. Sam is married with three grown-up children and a teenage tortoise, and lives in County Antrim, Northern Ireland.
Sam has won many awards for his children's books and is best known as the author the multi-million selling Guess How Much I Love You which was shortlisted for the 1994 Kurt Maschler Award, and is now one of the world's best-selling picture books. In 2004, Sam reunited with Guess How Much I Love You illustrator Anita Jeram to produce the follow-up, You're All My Favourites.

Anita Jeram
Born in Portsmouth, 1965, Anita worked in a variety of jobs after leaving school (in a factory and a kennel) before becoming a children's book illustrator.
Anita is married to a palaeontologist and has three children and a menagerie of animals, including cats, dogs, rabbits, toads, a lizard, a snake and a tortoise. She lives in Northern Ireland, and hopes, eventually, to set up a wildlife sanctuary there.
Anita did a foundation course in visual studies at Manchester Polytechnic, followed by a degree course in illustration. Her first book, Bill's Belly Button, was published a year after she graduated. Anita is best known for her illustrations for the picture book Guess How Much I Love You, which was shortlisted for the 1994 Kurt Maschler Award, and is now one of the world's best-selling picture books. Illustrating was a labour of love, she says. "Every time I read this book, I want to cry. The story reminds me so much of my own son, who often plays this kind of game with when it's time for bed." In 2004, Anita reunited with Guess How Much I Love You author Sam McBratney to produce the follow-up, You're All My Favourites.

Guess How Much I Love You, by Sam Mcbratney and Anita Jeram • WALKER BOOKS