Little Nutbrown Hare, who was going to bed, held on tight
to Big Nutbrown Hare's very long ears.
He wanted to be sure that Big Nutbrown Hare was listening.
"Guess how much I love you," he said.
"Oh, I don't think I could guess that,"said Big Nutbrown
Hare.
"This much,"said Little Nutbrown Hare, stretching out his
arms as wide as they could go.
Big Nutbrown Hare had even longer arms.
"But I love YOU this much,"he said.
Hmm, that is a lot, thought Little Nutbrown Hare.
"I love you as high a I can reach,"said Little Nutbrown
Hare.
"I love you as high as I can reach,"said Big Nutbrown
Hare.
That is quite high, thought Little Nutbrown Hare. I wish
I had arms like that.
Then Little Nutbrown Hare had a good idea. He
tumbled upside down and reached up the tree trunk
with his feet. "I love you all the way up to my
toes!"he said.
"And I love you all the way up to your toes,"
said Big Nutbrown Hare, swinging him up over his
head.
"I love you as high as I can HOP!" laughed Little
Nutbrown Hare, bouncing up and down.
"But I love you as high as I can hop," smiled
Big Nutbrown Hare - and he hopped so high that
his ears touched the branches above.
That's good hopping, thought Little Nutbrown
Hare. I wish I could hop like that.
"I love you all the way down the lane as far
as the river," cried Little Nutbrown Hare.
"I love you across the river and over the hills,"
said Big Nutbrown Hare.
That's very far, thought Little Nutbrown Hare.
He was almost too sleepy to think any more. Then
he looked beyond the thorn bushes, out into the
big dark night. Nothing could be further than the
sky.
"I love you right up to the MOON," he said, and
closed his eyes. "Oh, that's far," said Big Nutbrown
Hare. "That is very, very far."
Big Nutbrown Hare settled Little Nutbrown Hare
into his bed of leaves.He leaned over and kissed
him good night.Then he lay down close by and
whispered with a smile, "I love you right up to
the moon - AND BACK."