How Big Is Love? by Carl Merrison and Hakea Hustler, illustrated by Jade Goodwin

Title: How Big Is Love?

Author: Carl Merrison and Hakea Hustler, illustrated by Jade Goodwin

Genre: Fiction

Publisher: Hachette/Lothian

Published: 26^th August 2025

Format: Hardcover

Pages: 32

Price: $24.99

Synopsis: The love between two family members takes us on a journey from their small backyard, across Country, to the end of time – because sometimes we need to hear all the ways we are loved. A heartfelt story from the award-winning creators of Black Cockatoo, with illustrator Jade Goodwin.

‘My love stretches back to Creation and forward to the end of time.
I loved you then, I love you now, I’ll love you always.‘

A young child and a loving family member sit on the porch at sunset watching a storm roll in. The adult whispers, ‘I love you,’ but the child needs reassurance: ‘How much?’ With each new declaration, we learn that the love between adult and child is boundless.

A gorgeous and gentle look at all the ways we are loved.

~*~

How do you define love? What different kinds of love are there? Who do you love, and how much do you love them? There are so many different kinds of love, and often, romantic love is the one we see celebrated the most. Love between family members is the first time we experience love, and the way we learn to love. Or learn what love should be. Children learn to love their parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles first.

In Carl Merrison and Hakea Hustler’s latest picture book explores the special, boundless love between adults and children in a family, and how far an adult’s love for the children in their family goes. The storm rolls in as the child in this story asks their grandparent how much do you love me, needing lots of reassurance. The love in this book is pure and boundless, going into the far-reaching depths of the universe, and all the way back to Creation. It’s touching and delightful, reassuring and safe. Indigenous children and readers will see themselves, their culture and Country represented beautifully in this book by Carl, Hakea and Jade, and other readers will appreciate the message of love. Because love like the love seen in this book doesn’t change between cultures or nations. It’s human to love, and we all want to show the children in our lives how much we love them, and the depths that our love goes to.

It’s a comforting book for anyone to read too, because the main message is about love, with the wonderful addition of Indigenous characters living their lives on Country and showing what their relationship to Country and Creation is like in subtle ways. It’s part of the story, and it flows through the story so well with Jade’s exquisite illustrations that bring the love and story to life, and invite the reader into the world of the characters.

Everything in this book knits together so well. It brings things to life evocatively, and it feels like a grand theme, but it is something that also feels homely and familiar. I loved the grandparent and the grandchild, watching a storm roll in and talking about their love for each other. It’s a book to lose yourself in, and one that works when you need some reassurance about things. It’s gentle sing-song nature is evocative and calm, and can help someone recalibrate when feeling anxious. I loved the calming feeling that the illustrations and words had on me, and I hope that readers find joy in this book too.