More Than a Little Hardcover

A heartfelt thank you to a special friend.

Speaking in the first person and addressing an unidentified friend as you, the author begins this little tribute by expressing appreciation for all the friend is and does. Assuring the friend that where you are, things are brighter, the author adds, you're a gem, you're a peach, you're a wonderful friend. Admitting it's hard to find the right words (even in a giant...dictionary), the author asserts the friend is gooder than good and kinder than kind, and there's just no way to describe the friend's inner light and spirit. Indeed, knowing this friend is part of the author's life makes even the rainy days feel more alright. Present on all the author's brightest days, the fr iend has clearly made more than a little difference in the author's life. The rhyming text adds quiet cadence to this somewhat abstract ode to friendship while precise, small-scale illustrations, rendered in pale tans and greens, provide a visual context featuring a fox and a squirrel wearing old-fashioned shirts and knickers. Each page turn reveals the two friends together: kite-flying, picnicking, gathering honey, fishing, catching fireflies, drinking tea, sheltering under a toadstool, dancing, hopping across lily pads, cycling, swinging, star-gazing, sleeping in hammocks, and sharing all their brightest days surrounded by delicate botanicals.


A gentle paean to friendship most suitable for that perfect friend. (Picture book. 7-10) - Kirkus



An adoring red fox heaps encouragements upon a fluffy-tailed squirrel in this lovely rhyming picture book about sending littles into the world with confidence, because each one adds something to it that no one else can: themselves! This woodland pair picnics and gallivants with other forest friends, hopping across lily pads and reaching for the stars. The nature-attentive illustrations make use of a soft palette and whimsical details, resulting in a story that's soothing and light. -- Foreword Reviews

About the Author
M.H. Clark is a poet and writer who has received multiple awards, including the Washington State Book Award and two Moonbeam Children's Book Awards. She has traveled the world and lived in many wonderful places--but she believes she belongs most of all in a little house with a large library, someplace where the forest meets the sea.

Cécile Metzger is a French illustrator currently living in Florence, Italy. She finds inspiration observing nature and people passing by, and looks to capture the hidden stories in the everyday. In addition to art, Cécile loves tea, flowers, and her cat Marcel. I bought this book to give to a friend of over five years who moved 1,500 miles away after she got married this summer. She loves books, and this was such a beautiful way to give her something that told her in a beautifully narrated way how much I love her and have appreciated her friendship over the years. It is sweetly and beautifully illustrated and the simple prose is full of nostalgia and meaning. The book itself is a wonderfully sturdy, high quality hard cover that is perfect for displaying on any coffee table, nightstand or bookshelf. There was a blank page at the beginning I was able to write a dedication on, and it turned out to be a wonderfully sentimental gift for both my friend and myself. I was so happy with this purchase! Verified Purchase
This makes a lovely gift book for not only children of all ages but for adults that appreciate cute illustrations. It's a great way to show the recipient how much you care and love them. It's full of encouragement and the illustrations add a warm and cozy feeling. The illustration theme is set in nature, the woods/forest/woodlands to be more specific, and full of woodland animals dressed in cute outfits, flowers, ferns, mushrooms, fireflies, each page filled with wonder. The illustrator: Cécile Metzger did a beautiful job bringing the heartfelt words of M.H. Clark to life. I'm very happy I purchased it.