Celebrate Mother’s Day
In the United States Mother’s Day is celebrated on the second Sunday in May. The holiday was created in 1908 by Anna Jarvis as a day to celebrate one’s own mother. President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed Mother’s Day as an official national holiday in 1914.
In 2011, Mother’s Day falls on Sunday May 8th. Though around the world many countries celebrate Mothers at different times of the year. In fact, over 60 countries have their own version of Mother’s Day.
Mother’s Day is an excellent opportunity to incorporate family reading. Browse through the following selections for stories to share with any mothers in your life.
For more information on Mother’s Day:
http://www.biography.com/womens-history/mothers-day.jsp
http://planetgreen.discovery.com/home-garden/mothers-day-gift-alternatives.html
http://www.marthastewart.com/mothers-day-kids-activities
http://www.pbs.org/parents/special/mothersday.html
Contributor: Emily Griffin
Reviews
Arrorró, Mi Niño: Latino Lullabies and Gentle Games
Lulu Delacre
This award winning title is written in both Spanish and English. It is designed for use with very young children at playtime or bedtime. According to the introduction, fourteen different Latina cultures are represented. At the end of the book, eleven of the songs are printed with musical arrangements so that parents may sing them to their children. The lovely oil washed illustrations are a wonderful addition to the book. The deep love between adults (mostly mothers) and their children is beautifully portrayed. Especially striking is the picture that accompanies the melody entitled, "Moon, Gentle Moon." It depicts parents in a museum viewing a Van Gogh painting. An address to acquire a companion CD is provided. Latino parents living in the United States are certain to find this book a delightful way to pass on their traditions to their children, while others will find it useful for introducing Latino culture to their youngsters. Definitely place this title on the recommended list as it sure to be widely used. 2004, Lee & Low Books, Ages 6 mo. to 3, $8.95. Reviewer: Sylvia Firth (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-1-60060-441-6
Eloise’s Mother’s Day Surprise 
Lisa McClatchy
Illustrated by Tammie Lyon
Who would suspect anything but a very exuberant Eloise? Since it is nearly Mother’s Day, she wants to shop for something extra special. Off she and Nanny go, along with the inquisitive dog Weenie. Mother must have the very best, so that means visits to the very special stores in New York City. First, they shop for chocolates at Godiva. Then, beautiful red roses, a ring from Tiffany’s, and 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, $3.99. Ages 4 to 6. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot (Children’s Literature).
ISBN: 9781416978893
Flip, Flap, Fly!
David Walker
In a book that seems destined to become a classic of early childhood literature, a series of animal mamas assists a series of animal babies to fly, swim, wiggle, slide, paddle, and creep. Each baby in turn spots a baby of a different kind, until finally the human baby appears with its mama, ready for a kiss--and rejoicing in the gathering of all the baby animals already celebrated. The book could hardly be more perfectly constructed. Root's rhyming text is a read-aloud delight: "‘Swim!' blurps the baby fish. ‘Deep down dim.' So the mama helps the baby fish/ splish splash swim." Walker's mama-baby pairings are wonderfully colorful and cheerful, each sharing a glimpse of the tail of the next animal in the sequence emerging on the page. The story builds appropriately to the joyous appearance of the human child, clamoring for a kiss: "So the mama and the baby child kiss like this." Child readers are bound to share in the baby child's triumphant closing cry, "Babies everywhere!" Prediction: this one is going to be read by thousands of mamas and babies for years to come. 2009, Candlewick, $14.99. Ages 2 to 5. Reviewer: Claudia Mills, Ph.D. (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 9780763631093
ISBN: 0763631094
Grandma Comes to Stay
Ifeoma Onyefulu
Three-year-old Stephanie is exited because her grandmother is coming to visit. We follow her as she and her mother prepare for the visit, and we observe what she and her grandmother do together before she has to leave. Children of every culture can identify with this little girl in Ghana. While the specifics of the marketplace and the traditional dress may be different, the kinds of things that every child enjoys with a grandmother remain the same. This is a joyful celebration. The crisp, full-color photographs show their apartment indoors and out, the marketplace, and drummers at a festival. The bond between Stephanie and her Grandma comes through beautifully in the photos. True to her three-year-old age, Stephanie shows off all the things she can do: kick a ball, ride a bike, "use a counting book," play with her dolls, and more. She and Grandma share a story together as well. Preschool teachers will welcome this as a good conversation starter about grandmothers. It is a warm and loving look at the relationship between grandmother and granddaughter. 2009, Frances Lincoln, Ages 2 to 5, $17.95. Reviewer: Sharon Salluzzo (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-1-84507-865-2
I Call My Grandma Nana
Ashley Wolff
When the teacher's Chinese grandmother visits her class, the teacher asks each student to draw a picture of his or her grandmother, explain what they like to do together and what "grandma" is called. Students in this multicultural classroom share names from other languages as well as their own creative terms of endearment. Colorful collage illustrations with interesting details show the child and grandmother engaged in an activity. Some are seen indoors folding paper cranes, sewing, cooking and playing with a wooden train set. Others are outdoors engaged in bird-watching, swimming, watching the stars, and planting a garden. One child has a substitute grandmother next door because her own grandmother lives so far away. Another child has four grandmothers. Interesting details in the illustrations will engage the young listener. The rhyming text reflects the celebratory mood. What is especially nice about this is that it is not just a listing of names but it also shows the individuality of grandmothers and their interests. The inside back cover includes "Some Grandmother Names from Around the World" and there is a second list of some of the author's favorite names. 2009, Tricycle Press, Ages 3 to 7, $15.99. Reviewer: Sharon Salluzzo (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-1-58246-251-6
ISBN: 1-58246-251-8
I Love My Mommy
Giles Andreae
Illustrated by Emma Dodd
Just in time for Mother’s Day gift giving or for the special mom-to-be comes this charming celebration of the many facets of mommy. One little baby extols the virtues of his mother. She is soft to touch, wipes away tears, drives baby in the car happily listening to his favorite songs, quietly admonishes if baby screams and shouts when they are out for lunch, gives bubble baths, reads bedtime stories, and gives the best kisses. This baby knows she is special and if you met her you would think so too. Bright, vibrant illustrations capture mom and baby in all their times together and capture all the softness, fun, and humor that is mommy. The wide-eyed baby smiles and cries, shouts and smears spaghetti, coos and giggles in his sweet endearing way. Rhyming couplets are upbeat and joyful and will be delightful to read again and again. 2010, Hyperion Books/Disney, Ages 18 mo to 3, $12.99. Beverley Fahey (Children’s Literature).
ISBN: 978-1-4231-4327-7
Llama Llama Misses Mama
Anna Dewdney
Bright and early one morning Mama Lama awakens her little one and goes through the busy morning routine before driving him to preschool. Meeting the teacher, Llama hangs back and when Mama leaves he shyly waves good-bye from the window. Clutching his stuffed "lovie" Llama does not join in the games or activities, eats alone, and sheds quiet tears for the Mama he wants to return. Classmates sensitive to his feelings gently lure him into the rest of the days schedule until before he knows it… Mama is back. He runs to her open arms and at day's end concedes that he not only loves Mama but school, too. This universal childhood experience is treated with warmth and sensitivity. His anxiety over being separated from Mama is palpable as is his joy at her return. Rhyming couplets move the story along and the oil paintings with their soft palette accurately portray little Llama's range of emotions. This is perfect preparation and reassurance for little ones embarking on their first steps away from Mom. 2009, Viking, $16.99. Ages 3 to 5. Reviewer: Beverley Fahey (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 9780670061983
ISBN: 0670061980
Mama, Is It Summer Yet?
Nikki McClure
A little boy and his mother look out the window at the bare branches of a tree. Mittens and a scarf can be seen on the radiator, and the little boy asks, "Mama, is it summer yet?" He asks the question seven times, and each time the response brings us closer to summer. Not only do they observe the signs of the seasonal changes, but they also interact in the natural surroundings. The illustrations show them first in jackets and mittens. Soon the mittens are gone and they are shown in rubber boots. Finally, they are shown eating strawberries while they enjoy a dip in a kiddie pool. The simple, brief text captures the anticipation of a young child. The cut-paper illustrations enhance the text with details that support the changing season and provide much to talk about between reader and listener. The cut-paper illustrations are scanned and digitally colored with a single color on each double-page spread–such as the blue water drops coming out of the watering can–until the final spread where all the colors are included. The red end-papers are beautifully eye-catching with the cut-paper strawberries and vines so luscious the reader will want to linger. The simplicity of the text and the clean lines of the illustrations belie the complexities of the book design and the concept of the story. It is a seasonally perfect book for Mother’s Day, full of warmth between mother and child. Yet it can easily be used to introduce the change of seasons from late winter through spring and into early summer. It is a welcome addition to the story-hour shelf and is a perfect lap book as well. 2010, Abrams Books for Young Readers, $17.95. Ages 2 to 5. Reviewer: Sharon Salluzzo (Children’s Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-8109-8468-4
Max and the Dumb Flower Picture
Martha Alexander
Max needs a present for Mother's Day. His teacher, Miss Tilley, has made outlines of a "dumb flower picture" for the class to color, but he would prefer to do a drawing of his own, so while the others are making "pretty flowers," Max sulks. Then, he takes his paper and crayons out to the playground and hides. Worrying, Miss Tilley and the children look for him. The police are called. When he is finally found, Max shows off his picture. The inspired class gets back to work producing their "very own flowers." Their mothers are happy with the beautiful presents, so Miss Tilley is too. No contexts are needed for the visual narrative, just sensitive drawings of the characters, digitally colored and manipulated. Max and his friends are convincing youngsters, filled with enthusiasm for fresh picture making. The dozens of flower pictures reproduced on front and back end pages are contributed by Martha Alexander's family, friends, and colleagues. With a space left for the reader's own flower picture; they make the case for Max and Alexander's emphasis on freedom of creative expression. A note from Rumford explains his changes to Alexander's original manuscript and unfinished sketches. Check the cover under the jacket. 2009, Charlesbridge Publishing, $9.95. Ages 4 to 7. Reviewer: Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 9781580891561
ISBN: 158089156X
Me and My Mom!
Alison Ritchie
Illustrated by Alison Edgson
This companion to the New York Times bestselling Me and My Dad! celebrates the love between a little bear cub and his doting mama bear. Constant companions through seasonal play, the two make daisy chains, call out echoes from a cave, balance apples on their noses, go ice-skating and swimming, and romp in autumn leaves. Little bear is impressed by all of his mother's superior abilities--"We make strings of flowers/ and Mom is so clever/ That her daisy chain/ seems to go on forever!"--and, safe in her sheltering embrace, knows that s/he will grow up be just like her: "My mom is so special/ in every way./ I want to be just like/ my mommy one day." Mama and cub are completely adorable, whether curled up together in a field of daisies or wiggling their bottoms to dry off after a dip. Ritchie's text is simple and sweet; Edgson's art is soft and luminous; together they have created a picture book that will gather reading mothers and their little ones into its embrace. 2009, Good Books, $16.95. Ages 3 to 6. Reviewer: Claudia Mills, Ph.D. (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 9781561486571
ISBN: 1561486574
Miranda's Beach Day
Holly Keller
Mama takes Miranda to the beach on a hot summer day. Miranda watches the seagulls, wiggles her toes in the sand, swishes in the waves, and builds a sand castle for a small crab. A boy and his little sister come to help make "the best castle ever" for the crab, but the crab runs back to the sea as the waves make an island of the castle and then wash it away. Mama reassures Miranda that they will come again and make another castle for the crab, but, she notes, "…the crab will always belong to the sea." "The way the castle belongs to the sand?" asks Miranda. "Yes," says her mother. "And the way you belong to me." The simple story ends with the warmth of love. The sunny scene of land, sea, and sky is set on wide double pages. The figures are stylized, simplified, with dot-eyed faces. A few decorative beach umbrellas add to the appeal. The crab is attractive; even stronger are the impressions made by the fanciful wavelets breaking on the shore like strands of unraveling fabrics. The author/artist devotes a final page to an illustrated explanation of her process of making the printed collages she painted with watercolors and used for the waves, clothes, and umbrellas. Six different patterns are seen on the back jacket/cover. 2009, Greenwillow Books/HarperCollins Publishers, $17.99. Ages 2 to 5. Reviewer: Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 9780061582981
ISBN: 9780061583001
ISBN: 0061582980
ISBN: 0061583006
Mother’s Day and Other Family Days
Reagan Miller
Julia Ward Howe, in 1872, was the first person to consider having a day to celebrate mothers but it was not until 1910, thanks to the efforts of Anna Jarvis, that this day became a national holiday. Sonora’s mother died when she was a baby and as she grew up with her siblings and her father, she recognized that fathers deserve special recognition as well as mothers for the job that they do in the family. Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Grandparents’ Day, and Family Day are each discussed in this title, giving background on the people who were responsible for each becoming a national holiday. The reader will also learn about the efforts that it takes to get a holiday on the national calendar. Information about flowers and gifts that are associated with each of these holidays are also included. Each holiday has a craft that readers can make with some supervision, to recognize a special person in their lives. Kid-friendly websites for additional crafts and information are mentioned throughout the text. This title also includes an index and a glossary. Words in bold print through the text are defined in the glossary. Thirty-six other titles in this "Celebrations in My World" series cover Christmas, Thanksgiving, Purim, Ramadan, and Juneteenth. For a complete listing of the series titles, visit the Crabtree website. This title is an excellent companion title but is not strong enough to be a sole source resource. Students will find information here to help them in deciding about the direction their research will take. This soft cover format is a favorite of this age group, but if media personnel prefer to order them in hardcover, they are available. Considering the amount of wear that they will receive in a middle or upper elementary collection, it may be a worthwhile purchase in hardcover. 2011, Crabtree, $8.95. Ages 8 to 12. Reviewer: Joyce Rice (Children’s Literature).
ISBN: 9780778749301
ISBN: 9780778749370
ISBN: 9781427194473
Mother’s Day
Laura Pratt
These titles are part of the Canadian Celebrations series of thirteen non fiction books that highlight several holidays and celebrations with a Canadian focus. Each book in the series has a user friendly layout starting with a table of contents; then moving into text supported by whole page, strikingly beautiful photo illustrations, followed by a photo glossary and index to complete the topic. The text pages contain a heading and information about one aspect of the holiday or celebration being featured and each page is numbered using a graphic that relates to the book topic. Various authors have crafted these books using easily understood language which provide the reader, (teacher or student), with facts that promote discussion and elude to further research on the topic if so chosen. Throughout the books, the authors have bolded words that can be found in a photo glossary at the back of the book; a great text feature, especially for a young audience. The photos that are found on every second page are particularly vivid and capture the readers interest—definitely a very attractive feature of the series. This series of non fiction resources is a wonderful gift to any primary or elementary teacher doing a focus study on Canadian celebrations. Every book provides opportunity for teaching young students about the purpose of text features in non fiction text, as well as assisting in the development of comprehension skills in the area of Canadian celebrations. The font is easy to read and fits well with the genre. Overall, I found these books to be a fantastic resource, durable for student use and covering topics of interest for many grade levels! Category: Non-Fiction Grades K-6. Thematic Links: Celebrations; Citizenship; Culture; Family; Seasons; Symbolism. Resource Links Rating: E (Excellent, enduring, everyone should see it!), Gr. K-3. 2011, Weigl Educational Publishers, 24p. Illus., Hdbk. $23.95 ea. Ages 5 to 9. Reviewer: Carrie MacMillan (Resource Links Reviews, February 2011 (Vol. 16, No).
ISBN: 9781770716315
My Mother Is So Smart!
Tomie dePaola
Having written extensively about families in the past, DePaola now presents his homage to mothers. The book is dedicated to his mother, Flossie, and "all the other smart mothers in the world." We see a young child and his mother in a variety of scenes, all drawn in the award-winning style that is so famously "Tomie." Right from the earliest days, the baby recognizes that his mother is smart because she knows "when to change [his] diaper" and when he is hungry. Told in the first-person from the child’s point of view as he grows into a school-aged child, we learn that his mother knows how to dress him for cold weather and let him explore outside. Later, he appreciates her baking skills and willingness to interact with all of the neighborhood children. She teaches everyone to sing songs and be "VERY careful" using sparklers on the Fourth of July. One Halloween, she turns him "into a bird." The costume is adorable, and the child wears it with pride. When he describes how "she makes our house the best house at Christmas," he adds that he and his father help. Her versatility astonishes him, and he is impressed that she can drive his grandfather’s old delivery truck, sometimes even taking him to school in it. It is obvious that the narrator is impressed that she can "change into a movie star" when he sees her dressed to go out for the evening with his tuxedoed father. Her exuberance is portrayed as she teaches him to dance the polka and in his telling the principal of his school that "she can stand on her head." The blurb on the jacket cover explains that the generalized scenes in the book were inspired by DePaolo’s mother but the scene with the principal "actually happened." If only all mothers and children could have the loving relationship depicted here. Perfect for Mother’s Day or any day when children and adults share stories. 2010, Putnam/Penguin, $16.99. Ages 18 mo. to 5. Reviewer: Sheilah Egan (Children’s Literature).
ISBN: 9780399254420
Some Kind of Love: A Family Reunion in Poems
Traci Dant
Illustrated by Eric Velasquez
Traci Dant celebrates her family tradition of Mother's Day family reunion in Hannibal Missouri with this lovely series of prose poems. Each spread is dedicated to one or two family members; the figures in the illustrations are clearly portraits of Dant's own African-American extended family; they are shown set against impressionistic rural settings. The 4 to 25 line poems offer a snapshot of a person or activity associated with the reunion; the collection is further held together by theme of family bonding that gets repeated in every opening line: Must be some kind of love that. The text is a little sophisticated for most kindergarteners included in the target age—although the illustrations could inspire a good discussion of family celebrations. The book has great potential for leading into a rich family history unit for middle schoolers. 2010, Marshall Cavendish, Ages 5 to 9, $17.99. Reviewer: Mary Hynes-Berry (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-7614 5559-0
ISBN: 0-7614 5559-2
Taking Care of Mama
Mitra Modarressi
Mama has a fever and the doctor’s orders are to stay in bed. Papa and the three children insist that she stay in bed while they take care of the household. Fatigued by illness, Mama quickly drifts to sleep. Meanwhile, Papa cooks breakfast as the two older siblings help out with the preparations and watch their baby sister. Periodically, they check in on Mama to see how she is doing. Although the family manages to keep the household running, most of the activity centers around getting different meals ready. Their efforts lead to a messy house by dinner time. Papa and the children hurry to clean up and speed up their efforts when Mama announces that she feels better and will be joining them for dinner. Raccoons portray the members of the family and the watercolor illustrations fill the pages with efforts of the family pitching in while Mama gets well. The story is in poetic verse which keeps the story moving at an active pace. 2010, G.P. Putnam’s Sons/Penguin Group, $16.99. Ages 3 to 7. Reviewer: Carrie Hane Hung (Children’s Literature).
ISBN: 9780399252167
You're Lovable to Me
Kat Yeh
Illustrated by Sue Anderson
It had been a big day. It had been a hard night." Mama's large family of mischievous bunnies has made a big mess of mealtime, bath time, and teeth-brushing. Now contrite, they kneel by Mama's knee, as she reassures them that "When a mama loves a bunny," she loves him whether he is sad, frightened, lonely, worried, mad, exhausted, embarrassed, or shy. Whatever a bunny's feelings, "I'm your mama. You're my bunnies. And you're lovable to me." The second half of the book shows Grandpa Bunny coming to the house while Mama is asleep on the couch, tucking her under a blanket, and repeating the same sentiment to her as she sleeps: "When a papa loves a bunny, that's the way it will always be. I'm your papa. You're still my bunny. And you're lovable to me." The trans-generational "love you forever" message is sure to appeal to those who lap up Robert Munsch's treacley mega-seller, but it does not quite work as laid out here. Mama has not been frustrated by her little bunnies' feelings, but by their behavior (and by the commotion caused by their sheer number), and Mama herself has not behaved badly in any way that would call for parallel reassurance on the part of Grandpa Bunny; she has not done anything that would occasion the thought that he still loves her anyway. But Anderson's watercolors are a delight, filled with amusing details and wonderfully expressive emotions that add up to a feel-good celebration of family. 2009, Random House, $15.99. Ages 3 to 6. Reviewer: Claudia Mills, Ph.D. (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 9780375860157
ISBN: 9780375960154
ISBN: 9780375854262
ISBN: 9780375892752
ISBN: 0375860150
ISBN: 0375960155
ISBN: 0375854266
ISBN: 0375892753
Zero Kisses for Me
Manuela Monari
Illustrations by Virginie Soumagnac
The gentle message in this whimsically illustrated story will charm young readers because they will delight in relating this story to their own experience as they grow up in a warm and loving family and begin to feel independent. The little girl decides that she is tired of being kissed by everyone all the time and she announces to her mom that from now on she will have zero kisses. She explains to her mom that she is too big to be kissed and that she is worn out with kisses. However, when bedtime comes and it is dark, mom knows that a kiss will help the situation. The large print text is simple, humorous and repetitive making it easy for young readers to follow along and to predict the outcome of the story. Meanwhile the appealing monochromatic illustrations on each page are expressive, cartoon-like, and wonderfully reflective of the text, making it fun for young readers to look at this book independently or read with an adult. This darling book is sure to be a family favorite for parents and their young children. 2010, TundraBooks, $12.95. Ages 3 to 7. Reviewer: Susan Borges (Children’s Literature).
ISBN: 9781770492080
To view Mother’s Day book reviews from previous years, click on the following links:
2009 feature
2008 feature
2007 feature
2006 feature
2005 feature
2004 feature
2003 feature
2001 & 2002 features
1998 & 1999 features
1998 & earlier features
Updated 04/27/11
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