It Takes a Lot of Love

Michael Ambrosio
LionX Publishing (2007)
ISBN 9780971608542
Reviewed by Leslie Granier and Nicholas Lopez (age 5) and Marissa Lopez (age 2) for Reader Views (11/07)

“It Takes a Lot of Love” is the story of a young bear that has so much fun playing that he does not want to go to sleep.  He tries several stalling tactics but his mother keeps putting him back in bed.  Through patience, determination, and a lot of love he finally falls asleep for the winter.
 
This book emphasizes the frustrations parents face regardless of how much they love their children.  I thought it was cute when the mother was trying not to laugh when the baby got tangled in his blanket, even though she was quickly losing patience.  The use of rhymes will appeal to children and make them want to read this book over and over (probably right around their bedtime).  Some of the words (persist and resist) used in the story are unfamiliar to young children but they should be able to follow what is happening.
 
Marissa giggled throughout most of the book and asked to read it three times before we could move on to other activities.  She loved when Baby Bear sneezed so hard he fell out of bed.

Nicholas enjoyed the story in “It Takes a Lot of Love” and thought “it was so funny I laughed my head off.” He really liked the picture with the bear carrying the fish in his hands.  He wanted to know why the Mama Bear wears slippers but not clothes.  He thought it was nice when the Mommy, Daddy, and Baby Bears were all hugging at the end.

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