Celebrating Mothers on Mother's Day
With the exception of one's own name, "Mom," in whatever form, seems to be the most welcomed appellation around the world. To honor mothers, the United States celebrates Mother's Day on the second Sunday in May (May 10, 2009). The history of honoring mothers goes back to ancient times and has included specific celebrations of mothers in Egypt (Isis, thought of as the mother of pharaohs), Rome (Cybele or The Great Mother), and Greece (Rhea, the mother of the gods). Other celebrations honored Gaia the earth mother, and Meter the Mountain Mother.
Usually celebrated in the spring, these festivities included processions, distributions of flowers, and the consumption of sweets such as honeyed cakes. Later during the Christian observance of Lent, the fourth Sunday was set aside to honor the "Mother Church," and later, specifically, Mary. Sometime after that all mothers were given special attention on this day.
In England, mothers were visited by their children and treated with special presents, foods, and flowers on what became know as "Mothering Day," which is still observed in England. In the U. S., Julia Ward Howe instituted a special day for mothers to come together to support peace and motherhood, though the celebrations died out after a few years her idea was most likely the impetus for what we now know as Mother's Day. Anna M. Jarvis, in reverence and respect for her own mother, championed a day to honor mothers which, after many false starts, ultimately became the holiday we now celebrate.
Many countries around the world have joined in honoring mothers in May - over 40 countries celebrated Mother's Day in May at the time of Jarvis' death. As the celebration grew into a commercial affair heavily advertised by the floral industry, Jarvis became disillusioned with the idea that her effort to honor her mother had become an exploitation of mothers by the card and flower retailers. Regardless of the commercial value, May is still a time to honor one's mother, whether she is called: Madre(Spanish), Momma, Mommy, Mother, Mommu (Egan Clan), Mater (British), Mum, Maman (French), Amma (Bengali), Meme (Albanian), Om (Arabic), Mor (Danish), Mama (Swahili), Mutter (German), Mat (Russian), Nanay (Tagalog), Mam (Welsh), Ima (Hebrew), or Umamma (Zulu).
The following web sites contain lots of activities for families to honor their mothers as well as information about the origins and history of Mother's Day:
http://www.dayformothers.com/mothers-day-history/index.html
http://www.apples4theteacher.com/holidays/mothers-day/
http://www.mothersdaycentral.com/about-mothersday/history/
Browse through the following selections and see how important mothers (of all sorts) are to us all.
Contributor: Sheilah Egan
Reviews
Bebé Goes to the Beach
Susan Middleton Elya
Illustrated by Steven Salerno
The colors and excitement of a day at the beach are captured by the vivid illustrations and happy expressions of Bebé and Mamà in this, the second book about Bebé. It is a busy day at the beach, and Bebé joins right in. He lets his mom apply suntan lotion, and then he rushes to jump into the waves and feel the icy-cold water. After eating a picnic lunch, Bebé plays in the sand. While admiring some sand sculptures, Bebé sees a surf board. He cannot resist; he jumps on it. Oops! The board was made of sand. It breaks, and the sculptor comes running. Mamà and Bebé go for ice cream and make tracks in the sand. Finally, the tired little boy falls asleep on his beach towel, and Mamà has a chance to relax in her lounge chair. The text is liberally sprinkled with Spanish words, all of which are listed in a glossary that includes notes about proper pronunciation. Most of the words can be guessed by studying the illustrations, and those kids who are not conversant in Spanish will be able to make a game of figuring out the meanings. 2008, Harcourt, $16.00. Ages 3 to 5. Reviewer: Carolyn Mott Ford (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-15-206000-8
ISBN: 0-15-206000-6
Because You Are My Baby
Sherry North
Illustrated by Marcellus Hall
This is a nice fantasy book that shows the love of mothers for their children. From climbing the peak of Everest to skywriting, this is not just a tender love story. Rather, it is filled with information about the different aspects of life. North's work is a true, beautifully-told testament to what parents feel about their offspring. However, I did miss the presence of fathers and would have liked to see them either mentioned in the text or shown in the background of the illustrations. There are some interesting concepts for a read-aloud here, although the odd perspective in some of the illustrations gives the reader the sensation of being whirled around a bit though. This is not necessarily uncomfortable, just distracting. The colors in the illustrations are soft and add to the warm, sensitive joy of parents' feelings toward their child. Sweet and uplifting, unusual in its presentation, this is a lovely book for any parents to sit and read with their young child. 2008, Abrams Books For Young Readers, $15.95. Ages 9 to 12. Reviewer: Joan Elste (Children's Literature).
The Day Leo Said "I Hate You!"
Robie H. Harris
Illustrations by Molly Bang
This is a book for angry children. Leo rolls tomatoes across the floor, drops string beans in the fish bowl, dances on the coffee table, squeezes toothpaste down the toilet, and yells while his mother is on the phone. Then he is frustrated when his mother tells him, "No," so he goes to his room. There he draws a mean picture of this mother on the wall with crayons. When his mother comes in and tells him, "No!" Leo shouts, "I hate you!" His mother handles it calmly. After a discussion on broccoli, she reassures him that she still loves him. They have a little cry together, and Leo draws a happy picture of his mother on paper. The brightly colored pictures show brown skinned people with straight black hair. Strength of emotion is emphasized by the size of the printing. A bit of study is needed to follow who is speaking. Some mothers may feel this is a help in dealing with their children. My own feeling is that this gives children more bad ideas than help. 2008, Little Brown and Company, Ages 3 to 6, $16.99. Reviewer: Carlee Hallman (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-316-06580-1
ISBN: 0-316-06580-3
Eloise's Mother's Day Surprise
Lisa McClatchy
Illustrated by Tammie Lyon
Who would suspect anything but a very exuberant Eloise. Especially since it is nearly Mother's Day and she wants to shop for something extra special. Off she and Nanny go, along with her inquisitive dog Weenie. Mother must haves the very best, so that means visits to the very special stores in New York City. First it is chocolates at Godiva, then beautiful red roses, and a ring from Tiffany's, plus a hat from Saks Fifth Avenue. (These stores couldn't have paid for a better commercial with the trademark Godiva gold and the blue Tiffany shopping bag.) Eloise declaims her love of shopping and what comes through is not only the tangible gifts to be sent to her mother, but the very special ones that she gives to Nanny who has served so completely as a surrogate mother. A Level 1 book in the "Ready-To-Read" series. There are helpful tips for parents and teachers printed on the inside cover. 2009, Aladdin/Simon & Schuster, Ages 4 to 6, $3.99. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-1-4169-7889-3
ISBN: 1-4169-7889-5
Finding Home
Sandra Markle
Illustrated by Alan Marks
In New South Wales, Australia, a mother koala and her joey manage to escape a bush fire, but must find eucalyptus leaves to survive. Unfortunately, there are dogs and people near the trees. The people do not bother the pair, but seem to protect her until she finds a forest where she and her joey can live safely again. The simple but moving story is based on the life of a real koala. Marks's sensitive visualizations are rendered in watercolors, pen, and pencil. He floods the double-page scenes with the transparent paints for emotional affect, like the reddish yellows of the bushfires and the restful blues of the leafy sanctuaries at night. The koalas are drawn naturalistically with affection, while the humans are indistinct shapes. The visual narrative clearly and sympathetically portrays the problem of a "wild" animal in a shrinking habitat. Notes add information on koalas and on the factual basis for the story. 2008, Charlesbridge Publishing, $15.95. Ages 4 to 7. Reviewers: Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 1-58089-122-5
ISBN: 978-1-58089-122-6
How to Talk to Moms
Alec Greven
Illustrated by Kei Acedera
This is probably not going to be a book that kids pick up and read over and over. It is a soft lesson that reiterates what most kids know. There are ways to make your mother unhappy—fight with your brothers and sisters, make messes, hide the truths—and there are ways to make your mother happy—keep clean, be polite and do chores without being asked. There is one section "Excuses, Bribes and the Backfire" that clearly warns of the dangers of making excuses. You will often loose according to Alec, because mom's are pretty smart. If you say you are sick then you could end up in bed all day. The illustrations by Acedera are simple black and white drawings which are more like cartoons. The book's author is only ten, so that may be the attraction (he actually wrote the book when hew was nine). The pink cover seems like a poor choice for a book that should appeal to boys as well as girls. 2009, Collins/HarperCollins, Ages 7 to 12, $9.99. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-06-171001-8
If I Could
Susan Milord
Illustrations by Christopher Denise
Deceptively simple, this charming ode to a mother's love of her child covers a depth of feeling that is often hard to express. In some books, there is a give-and-take between the parent and child that almost seems to be a contest of who can love whom the most, but here Milord has written a rhymed consideration of the extent of this mother's love. Denise has beautifully illustrated the mother's longing to express her feelings with gentle, pastel watercolor renderings of a mother badger and her child as they progress through a day together. As she wishes such things as "If I could, I'd swim the deep in search of treasures for you to keep," we see the pair gathering shells and other "treasures" in tidal pools along the beach. She longs to make all days sunny and bright, to sing at night to keep the stars shining brightly, and to "make you see how very much you mean to me." After they have made their way back home, we hear her say "You are the song. You are the light--a treat and a treasure, a joy and delight. This much I know, this much is true, I couldn't love you more that I do. But if I could I would." This wonderful circle of wishes and their fulfillment in realizing that their love is embodied in the things that they share daily is a lovely paean to the absolute, unconditional love felt by the "mommy." Denise has paid careful attention to conveying this message in every aspect of each illustration. In the picnic on the beach scene, we see a striped blanket folded among their things, then as the sun goes down we see the mother wrapped in the blanket as she snuggles her child in the cool of the evening. Give this as a loving Mother's Day present. Needless to say, I wish I could convey just how much I love this book--I guess sharing it with everyone I love and encouraging others to do the same will be a good start. 2008, Candlewick, $15.99. All Ages . Reviewer: Sheilah Egan (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-7636-2348-7
ISBN: 0-7636-2348-2
Kitty Cat, Kitty Cat, Are You Waking Up?
Bill Martin, Jr. and Michael Sampson
Illustrated by Laura J. Bryant
Kitty Cat's mother is trying to rouse her appealing anthropomorphic feline child to get ready for school. On each double-page spread, her repeated "Kitty Cat, Kitty Cat" and Kitty Cat's answer are a rhymed couplet. Each turn of the page has Kitty Cat's mother asking the kitten about everything from cleaning her fur and getting dressed to eating. The youngster consistently answers "Not yet." Kitty Cat, like so many youngsters, always has something else to do first, but her patient mother loves her in spite of it all. The very brief text is really a take-off point for Bryant's delightful illustrations in watercolors and colored pencils. They create typical child behavior shown by a charming kitten any cat lover would appreciate. A frisky mouse is a constant companion in the visual tale, as we are treated to rumpled bedclothes, scattered clothes, and an upset goldfish along with a patient mother. Very large blue type is used for the verbal exchanges. A heart-warming hug is the satisfying end. 2008, Marshall Cavendish Corporation, $14.99, Ages 3 to 6. Reviewers: Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-7614-5438-0
Ma! There's Nothing to Do Here!: A Word From Your Baby-In-Waiting
Barbara Park
Illustrations by Viviana Garofoli
If a baby boy in utero were to write a letter to his host, this book is what he might have to say. Barbara Park, of Junie B. Jones and other chapter book fame, uses witty rhyming verse to explore what this baby's thoughts might be. Mostly he voices loud complaints about the cramped quarters. Park's comic imagination takes off from the fact that the fetus is suspended in liquid to imagine his complaining about having no room to swim, followed by his wishing for a canoe! But baby-in-waiting also has misgivings about life on the outside. He is not so sure that Ma is ready for his appearance or that he'll be able to hold his head up, literally, on the outside. Garofoli, the illustrator, exploits the roundness of the baby's temporary home, and winds the text around the bulbous shapes of the top-heavy unborn's world. This book will be sure to delight pregnant moms and the young siblings of babies-in-waiting and invite their sympathies. This funny fantasy makes no attempt to inform readers about pregnancy or childbirth, but could gently help young children begin to understand how babies are born. 2008, Random House, $15.99. Ages 3 to 6. Reviewer: Christina M. Desai (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-375-83852-1
ISBN: 0-375-83852-X
ISBN: 978-0-375-93852-8
ISBN: 0-375-93852-4
Mama's Kiss
Jane Yolen
Illustrated by Daniel Baxter
The premise is that kisses from mothers have a magic all their own. The author and the illustrator take that idea to create a charming story about what happens when one of Mama's kisses misses its intended goal—the little girl who narrates the story—and begins its journey around the neighborhood to touch the lives of others. Ricocheting from one person to the next, one animal to another, venturing around the countryside, the kiss touches many and leaves good spirits and happy feelings all around. Young readers should be able to read the short sentences found on each page and will love the colorful pages that accompany each idea. The kiss itself, with its cupid wings, provides a visual consistency from page to page. This book will be a happy hit with young readers and their parents. 2008, Handprint Books, $14.99, Ages 3 to 6. Reviewer: Jean Boreen (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-8118-6683-5
Mama Loves Her Little Son
John Carter Cash
The son of Johnny Cash and June Carter, Grammy Award-winning producer John Carter Cash carries on his family's lyrical legacy with his new book. The story tells the tale of the love of a mother for her child, following a mother, a son and their dog on a magical adventure around the world and across the sky. The text is rhythmic and easy to read aloud, drawing the reader through the story. The Americana-style illustrations are clear and wonderfully distinct, effortlessly capturing the spirit of the text and drawing the close attention of the reader who is sure to pore over the text and pictures of each page. Mama Loves Her Little Son would be a great choice for a storytime, display or book-list on Mother's Day. This book is recommended for purchase by school media centers and public libraries and would make a wonderful addition to any picture book collection. 2009, Simon & Schuster, Ages 4 to 8, $16.99. Reviewer: Meagan Albright (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-1-4169-5912-0
Mama Says: A Book of Love for Mothers and Sons
Rob D. Walker
Illustrations by Leo Dillon and Diane Dillon
On each of twelve double pages, Walker has written a brief poem beginning, "Mama says…" Each is a reminder of good behavior, from being loving, caring, and sharing to being helpful, honest, trusting in God, courageous, and respectful of all life. Each poem has alongside a translation into a different language, using the letterforms of that group, the language of the mother and child that the Dillons there illustrate. There's a sculptural quality to their pictures, created with sensitive shading of smoothly applied paints in subtly outlined shapes creating naturalistic figures. The left-hand page of this large book houses, in a circular frame, some interaction between mother and son along with the poem and translation and a small patterned square representing that group. On the right is a large framed illustration of the recommended behavior. The clothing and objects reflect the particular culture. A final double page group portrait depicts each boy as a man, effectively offering the reader comparisons along with the text, "I listened to what Mama said/ And now I am a man." Notes at the end offer additional facts along with an "Afterword" that asks, "…let us celebrate our diversity and our common need…" A beautiful, heart-warming celebration indeed! 2009, The Blue Sky Press/Scholastic, Ages 4 to 9, $16.99. Reviewers: Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-439-93208-0
ISBN: 0-439-93208-4
Mommy Calls Me Monkeypants
J.D. Lester
This beautifully illustrated board book captures the odd sweetness often found in the adorable nicknames that mothers give their babies. From Splish-splash, a little green frog playing in a puddle, to Snuggle-up, a baby panda who loves a tree-top cuddle, mothers and children alike will enjoy reading and cuddling with this wonderful board book. Readers learn new ways to express their love for each other and are sure to love acting out each snuggly rhyme. The soft yet bright colors of the illustrations bring each verse to life. Children will enjoy playing find the animal on the next to last page of the book, with the peacock taking center stage while the rest of the animals from the book gather around. The lyrical rhythm of this book make an excellent read aloud for storytime or one-on-one reading with your own little snuggle bunny. Mommy Calls Me Monkeypants is the perfect choice for celebrating Mothers' Day or reading about the love between a mother and child any day of the year. This book is highly recommended for purchase for public libraries' board book collection. 2009, Random House Children's Books, Ages 3 mo to 3, $7.99. Reviewer: Meagan Albright (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 0-37584-502-X
ISBN: 978-0-3758-4502-4
Mommy Do You Love Me?
Jeanne Willis
Acting like a typical preschooler, Little Chick tests his own limits--and the limits of a chicken mother's love--in this funny, sweet picture book. Despite jumping in a mud puddle, losing at a race, and inadvertently ruining the flower his mother gave him, Chick is constantly reassured of his mother's love, but just when he is on top of the world (and screeching at the top of his lungs in sheer glee), his mother, tired of the racket and of have to repeat her requests for him to stop, loses her temper and yells at him. The ensuing crisis gives Chick's mother a chance to reassure her son once and for all: "Sometimes you make me mad, and sometimes you make me sad, but no matter what you say or do, I will always love you." Chick's bad behavior and Jan Fearnley's humorous illustrations help keep the somewhat predictable story line from drifting into saccharine sweetness. Fearnley's pastel watercolors also reinforce the story's comforting themes. 2008, Candlewick, $15.99. Ages 3 to 5. Reviewer: Norah Piehl (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-76363-470-4
ISBN: 0-7636-3470-0
Mommy, Where Are You?
Leonid Gore
Ozzie, an appealing young mouse, is distressed to wake up one morning to find his mother gone. "Mommy, where are you? is his plaintive question. Out he goes to search for her. "There you are!" he exclaims, on double-page spread after spread. Each time he spots what seems to be part of her through a cutout space. But each time as the page is turned, he finds it is not she. From fence to rock to tree to lake he looks in vain. Back in the garden, he is frightened to encounter the cat, luckily for him, asleep. Ozzie runs back home, to find Mommy there fixing his breakfast. A hug makes everything fine again. Youngsters should find these toy book variations on hide-and-seek appealing. The very brief, simple text in large print is almost unnecessary. Gore applies acrylic paint broadly to simulate textures like the roughness of a rock or a hippo's hide. The cutouts are inventive enough to enhance the fun. The hole on the jacket/cover is so realistic that it is hard to believe that it is not a cutout as well. 2009, Atheneum Books for Young Readers/Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing Division, Ages 3 to 6, $16.99. Reviewers: Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-1-4169-5505-4
ISBN: 1-4169-5505-4
Most Loved in All the World
Tonya Hegamin
Illustrated by Cozbi Cabrera
A young girl narrates the story of her life as a slave in poetic prose. Her mother picks cotton until her hands bleed. The girl is too young to pick cotton, so she brings water to the field. At night, her mother sews quilt squares, each one with a special meaning. A happy little girl in one square is, her mother tells her, "the most loved in all the world." One night, her mother takes her to a meeting and tells her that she must go with the people there to find Freedom. The girl doesn't want to leave her mother, but her mother says she must stay to "help others find Freedom." Wrapped in the quilt her mother made, the girl realizes that it is a map of the way to that Freedom on the Underground Railroad. Although Cabrera's double-page acrylic paintings depict the story using somber impressionistic shapes and colors, the interjection of the quilted squares of fabric collage promises a bright, hopeful conclusion. The endpages are covered with a variety of patterned textile pieces with other fabric squares throughout; the special square with a large heart and the one with the happy girl support the theme of maternal love. There are added notes, as well as a bibliography on slavery and the Underground Railroad. 2009, Houghton Mifflin Company, $17.00. Ages 4 to 8. Reviewers: Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 0-618-41903-9
ISBN: 978-0-618-41903-6
Mother Poems
Hope Anita Smith
Illustrated by Hope Anita Smith
Momma is everything to her little girl. She guards the closet door and keeps monsters at bay better than any superhero. Like the North Star, she points her daughter in the right direction and helps her "navigate through hurt feelings and bad choices." She wraps her in her arms and "loves me through and through, and can't nobody love me like my momma do." These thirty-one poems celebrate the warm and loving relationship between a mother and daughter. They mourn Momma's unexpected and far-too-early death that "created an ache so deep, I had to put up guard rails to keep me from falling in." They touch upon the anger, guilt and confusion created by such a devastating loss. "But I don't cry because my mother is gone. I'm just mad that she didn't take me with her." At times humorous, always touching, often bittersweet, but never morbid, these poems explore death as seen through the eyes of a child - a child who over time begins to build a memory tree hung with those moments, real and imagined, shared with her mom. Illustrated with deceptively simple torn paper images that perfectly capture the spirit of the poems, this anthology would make an excellent addition to any collection of African American writers. 2009, Christy Ottaviano Books/ Henry Holt and Company, Ages 10 up, $16.95. Reviewer: Anita Barnes Lowen (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-8050-8231-9
ISBN: 0-8050-8231-X
Mother, You're the Best! (But Sister, You're a Pest!)
Diane deGroat
Gilbert, a possum, wants his mother's attention all to himself on Mother's Day. However, every time Gilbert tries to do something special for his mother, his little sister Lola is always there first. So Gilbert attempts to get Lola out of the way by doing all the things with her she bugs him about. He takes her along to the store, he gives her a bath, he reads and rereads her favorite story, and then he finally gets a chance to spend time with Mother. She opens a photo album and tells Gilbert what he was like as a baby. Turns out he was a lot like Lola. Mother thanks Gilbert for her Mother's Day gift--the time he spent that day with Lola--it was just what she wanted. This is a sweet and gentle book that is reflected in the soft illustrations. Any animal or human must balance time with siblings and their parents while learning how to get along with each other. Another installment in the "Gilbert and Friends" series. 2008, HarperCollins, $17.89. Ages 1 to 3. Reviewer: Renee Farrah (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-06-123899-4
ISBN: 978-0-06-123900-7
ISBN: 0-06-123899-6
ISBN: 0-06-123900-3
Mothers
Lola M. Schaefer
This attractive and simple nonfiction text is designed to help young readers reflect on their personal experience and build new understandings about family relationships. The colorful, appealing, and diverse photographs of mothers shown in a variety of roles will interest young readers and aid in their comprehension. The large plain font supports the simple sentences, familiar vocabulary, and many words with predictable letter-sound relationships for easy decoding. There are only two to three lines of print per page, and the highly supportive illustrations match the message on each page. With adult assistance, early readers will enjoy using the table of contents, glossary, suggested Internet sites, and the index. This book about mothers is one in a series of books about families. The entire "Families" series can be read and enjoyed by children in a kindergarten or first grade classroom. The content in this simple nonfiction text supports some basic understandings of the national social studies curriculum standards for elementary students. 2008, Capstone Press, $17.26. Ages 2 to 6. Reviewer: Susan Borges (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-1-4296-1227-2
ISBN: 1-4296-1227-4
My Mom and Me
Alyssa Satin Capucilli
Illustrated by Susan Mitchell
A young boy enjoys an autumn day with his mom walking in leaves, swaying in a swing, and sharing a picnic lunch. Then a small girl and her "mami" (Spanish) builds a snowman, twirls on ice, and shares a nose hug on a winter outing. The springtime scene features a boy and his "ima" (Hebrew) flying kites, watching clouds, and smelling flowers. A girl and her "mama" (Mandarin) frolic on the seashore in the summer. The closing segment features a girl and her "maa" (Hindu) blowing bubbles and sharing good night kisses. Each double-page spread has an attached double flap which extends into another page. The illustrations are rather static and the extension does not contribute anything of significance. Although different words are used for "mother", the figures in the pictures look much the same from one page to the next. The potential of the book for contributing to multicultural understanding is minimal. 2009, Little Simon/Simon & Schuster, Ages 3 to 6, $7.99. Reviewer: Phyllis Kennemer (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-1-4169-5829-1
ISBN: 1-4169-5829-0
My Mom Is Trying to Ruin My Life
Kate Feiffer
Illustrated by Diane Goode
This girl's mom may look like a nice person and she does some nice things. She makes people smile. She feeds hungry people, and she helps heal boo-boos. But this mom has five bad habits. She kisses her daughter in front of her friends. She brings changes of clothes to school. She talks too loudly. She is particular about what her daughter eats. And she worries too much keeping the girl from doing fun things. The girl comes up with a far fetched plan for reporting her mother to the police and getting her arrested and put in jail for ruining her daughter's life. Then her dad will also be incarcerated for the five annoying things he does. Life will be perfect without her parents--except there won't be any dinner when she gets home, no bedtime story, and no sleep because no one will tell her to turn out the light. And being alone would be really scary. After due consideration, the girl runs into her parents' bedroom to tell them she loves them. Vignettes in pastel shades depict the girl's thoughts as she comes to the right conclusion. A bit silly in places, but a good reminder of how nice it is to have parents around. 2009, Simon & Schuster, Ages 5 to 8, $16.99. Reviewer: Phyllis Kennemer (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-1-4169-4100-2
ISBN: 1-4169-4100-2
My Mother Is Mine
Marion Dane Bauer
Illustrated by Peter Elwell
This tribute to motherhood features a sentence or two on one side and a softly colored illustration on the other of each double-page spread. The beginning pictures are of animals. "My mother is soft" shows a lamb with a ewe. "My mother watches me long and long" is accompanied an owl looking at an owlet. "My mother feeds me" has a robin giving a worm to a baby bird. "She never forgets to kiss me goodnight" shows a cow kissing a calf in the twilight. The last three spreads depict a girl making a card as she thinks about how special her mother is. They share the card at the end. The rhyming text, sweet pictures, and the board book format will appeal to toddlers and their parents. 2009 (original 2001), Little Simon/Simon & Schuster, Ages 2 to 5, $7.99. Reviewer: Phyllis Kennemer (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-1-4169-6090-4
ISBN: 1-4169-6090-2
Please Pick Me Up, Mama!
Robin Luebs
The concept of this book, the constant up and down of a toddler who seeks freedom and independence yet still wants mama to pick her up and cuddle, will resonate with many parents and caregivers of young children as the busy little raccoon "can't decide if she'd rather explore on her own or climb back into her mama's arms". The rhyme scheme and word choice seem slightly forced, and the book doesn't flow well enough to be an excellent choice for either storytime or individual reading. The illustrations are softly colored whimsical expressions of the text, but the slightly blurry or muddled quality on some pages detracts from the overall enjoyment of the pictures. The cat that appears on many of the pages would serve as an excellent thread throughout the book if only it appeared on every page instead of sporadically. This book is recommended as an additional purchase for public libraries or school media centers looking to expand their picture book collection. 2009, Simon & Schuster, Ages 3 to 5, $15.99. Reviewer: Meagan Albright (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 1-41697-977-7
ISBN: 978-1-4169-7977-8
T. Rex and the Mother's Day Hug
Lois G. Grambling
Illustrated by Jack E. Davis
Grambling's text and Davis's cartoon-like exaggerations showing Mamma T with earrings and her son dressed for play in cargo shorts make it clear this is yet another tale in which the most ferocious of dinosaurs is presented more as an endearing menace than a full grown terrible tyrant. In this case, young T. wants to give his mother something very special for Mother's Day, although she insists she would be happy to settle for a big hug. T. remembers how some previous efforts turned into disasters but nonetheless paints up his mother's car in a fashion that clearly gives her pause; however, he also gives her a big hug, which is supposed to make everything all right. Young children who like a bit of mischief are likely to enjoy the first go through, but there is not much substance to return to, so you might as well wait for the paperback. You might also find a way to put the story to good use by using it to trigger a discussion about giving or getting unwanted presents. 2008, HarperCollins, $16.99. Ages 3 to 6. Reviewer: Mary Hynes-Berry (Children's Literature).
It's Mother Day, and instead of buying Mama Rex a gift, her son T. Rex decides to do something for her. The problem is he does not know what to do. Mama Rex says that what would make her happy is a Mother's Day hug, but T. Rex wants to do more. As he comes up with idea after idea, he recollects that he has already done each of them. Besides Mama did not seem to like it when he wallpapered the dining room or redecorated the living room to look like a rainforest. When Rex does come up with a new--and equally destructive--idea, he enlists his friend's help. He presents his gift to Mama Rex and does what comes naturally to him at last, giving her what she wanted most of all--a hug. The bright magenta endpapers set the tone for this creative and fun picture book. It is an inside look at how domesticated dinosaurs live, complete with kitchen wallpaper with images of bacon, steak and drumsticks, bug juice as a toast topping, and the like. It quickly becomes a game to find all the little bugs drawn on every page. Kids will like this book, not only for the dinosaurs and detailed pictures, but also because it answers what to get your mom for Mother's Day--something simple that is always appreciated. This is the third book about "T. Rex." 2008, Katherine Tegen Books/HarperCollins, $16.99. Ages 3 to 6. Reviewer: Renee Farrah (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-06-053126-3
ISBN: 978-0-06-053127-0
ISBN: 0-06-053126-6
ISBN: 0-06-053127-4
When Two Are Angry at Each Other
Tor Age Bringsvaerd
Illustrated by Tina Soli
Riley, a young redheaded girl goes through a series of events to describe a fight she has had with her mother. The anger between the girl and her mother is compared to dragons fighting, balloons popping and snowwomen twisting each other's carrot noses. Both text and pictures are playful and relatable to a young child. Some of the scenarios are downright silly, such as the verbal and visual picture of elephants trying to cover their ears while sharing a bedcover. The illustrations are heavily outlined black line drawings with bright primary coloring. For most of the book, Riley is shown with just a t-shirt and her underpants, finally putting on a short pink skirt at the end. Perhaps this is what the fight is all about? This could be a nice way to introduce appropriate and inappropriate ways to deal with anger to young children. Underneath the silliness lies a lesson in love and forgiveness. 2008, MacKenzie Smiles, Ages 3 to 6, $14.95. Reviewer: Wendy M. Smith-D'Arezzo (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-979034787
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Added 04/28/09
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