The More You Give by Marcy Campbell illustrated by Frances Sanna

"Most of the gifts she gave the boy were ones that he could not hold in his hands. 

Like all of wisdom about how things grow."

"The boy's grandmother had a birthday and he gave her many gifts, like a poem, a picture, a crown and most of all his love. And she loved him back. And they were happy."

Until one day ... I guess you know what has happened.  Then over time the boy regains his happiness. His grandmother has taught to ask for help and showed him how to be patient. As the story continues the boy grows into a man and now there is a girl, his daughter, who loves her father and he gives her gifts such as his wisdom about how things grow. Finally, the tree, that was a seed all those long years ago, is now a strong with a branch that is perfect for a swing and this is a tree that will stand for the next generation and the next.

Publisher blurb: The boy’s grandmother gives him many gifts, like hugs, and Sunday morning pancakes, and acorns with wild and woolly caps. And all her wisdom about how things grow. As the boy becomes a father, he gives his daughter bedtime stories his grandmother told him, and piggyback rides. He gives her acorns, and the wisdom he learned about how things grow. His daughter continues the chain, then passing down gifts of her own. Here is a picture book about the legacy of love that comes when we nurture living things—be they people or trees.

Reviews are likening this book to The Giving Tree but that's not something I want to think about or discuss because I am not really a fan of that classic book and I think this book is so much better!

There’s a lot packed into the spare text, which spans decades of time to share how first a grandmother and grandson, then the grandson grown up with a daughter of his own, and finally that daughter with her son share their love. Kirkus star review

Here is the review from the School Library Journal.  Here is the book trailer. 

Frenci (Francesca) Sanna is an illustrator and picture book author from Sardinia, currently living and drawing in Switzerland.  Look at other books by Francesca Sanna. 

Read about The Journey here. 

Here are some other books by Marcy Campbell:

Kirkus Star review