Picture Books for Mother's Day

(3) K-3 Bachelet hypothesizes a diary entry by the White Rabbit's wife, about her at-home-mom life while her husband is at work at the palace. Wonderland characters grace the art, which shimmers with winking allusions to Carroll's original work; the text's darker elements (e.g., Mrs. Rabbit wishes her husband "paid just a little attention to me every once in a while") skew toward mature picture-book readers.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Naoko Stoop. In Banks's gentle story about a loving, if unconventional, parent-child relationship, an Arctic wolf pup stranded on an ice floe is rescued by a polar bear who recognizes what he needs: "I am not your mother...but I can cuddle you and keep you safe." Stoop's captivating mixed-media-on-plywood illustrations, with their delicate lines and visible woodgrain texture, capture both the characters' trusting bond and the harsh setting's beauty.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2018

(3) K-3 Illustrated by LeUyen Pham. The glamorous foursome from Shoe-la-la! visits a local street-fair vendor, Chez Chapeaux, to buy hats for a surprise event they've planned: a mother-daughter tea party. Beaumont's rhyming text is bubbly and zippy ("Ribbons, buttons, beads, and bows / Gems and jewels...we all like those"), and Pham's Japanese-brush-pen illustrations, digitally colored in rich jewel tones, are just as energetic.

Reviewer: Lana Barnes

(3) PS "MOMMY! I'M HUNGRY!" "Mommy, I'm bored." After a child's dozen-plus demands of Mommy, he switches to "Daddy?", which sets up the punch line: after Daddy responds "Yes!", the follow-up is, "Where's Mommy?" The joke is well-executed and the simple, cartoony illustrations on eye-catching, solid-color backgrounds convey the tempest of need roiling inside a teapot-size child.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(3) K-3 This paean to the narrator's mother ("My mom's as beautiful as a butterfly...") shows Browne's sunny side, as he repeats a motif of hearts and flowers on every page, from endpapers to mom's bathrobe. But with touches such as his signature gorilla (on a cake) and transformations (juggled balls become cars and houses), Browne rescues the book from blandness.

Reviewer: Martha V. Parravano

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Jan Brett. Three mouse siblings slip quietly out of the house early Mother's Day morning to find presents in the woods. After nearly being caught by a fox and an owl, they give Mother a dandelion and strawberry--and Little Mouse sings a song. Brett's illustrations, rendered in glowing, brilliant colors, are the perfect complement to the cozy, sentimental story. An affectionate tribute to the holiday.

Reviewer: The Horn Book, Inc. | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 1986

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Carmen Mok. This Canadian import straightforwardly takes on a difficult subject: the effects of parental depression on a child. Kim wakes each morning not knowing which version of her mother she'll have for the day. "Sometimes she's up, making breakfast, packing lunch. Today she's still in bed beside me." Our narrator doesn't appear outwardly worried; "I'm tough like Mum" is her repeated refrain. Kim packs her own lunch with what little she can find in the pantry, saving food for her dinner. When she attempts to rouse her mother for a school field-trip signature, Mum's curt response sends Kim away. The muted colors used in Mok's digitally edited gouache and colored-pencil illustrations give a heaviness to Kim's days and are fitting to the subject at hand. Fortunately, a supportive teacher provides some comfort, helping Kim navigate the field-trip problem (including the form's "I can't pay" box, another clue to one of her family's hardships), and allowing the girl to feel less alone. Children with a parent living with depression will see themselves in Kim's steadfast love for, and frustration with, her mother. Eventually, the two are able to connect after school, and Kim and Mum spend their evening reading stories and laughing together. Readers should come away from the story realizing that staying "tough" is not the only answer.

Reviewer: Hill Saxton | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2021

(1) PS In the early morning, a young unnamed Black girl tiptoes through the house and past various sleeping family members, to be greeted by the smell of cinnamon and her mother's good-morning song. Even though the day is rainy, it's a wonderful time to "be everywhere Mama is." Throughout her day, the child makes clever observations about the similarities and differences between herself and her mother. While she has less toothpaste on her toothbrush, both she and Mama know to brush "round my teeth with little circles." As they prepare to go outside to take a nature walk, it's noted that "Mama's rain boots are / bigger than mine. / And they're red"--however, both pairs make an excellent splash in puddles. The girl is also keen to acknowledge how she and her mother care for each other--after her hair is combed, she returns the favor, accentuating her mom's thick curls with "the purply pink barrette...She calls it fuchsia." At the end of her day ("Our day is done earlier than / Mama and Papa's / It's just that way when you're growing"), mother and daughter read stories to each other. Drifting off to sleep, the young girl is content to dream, knowing "there'll be me and Mama." Celebrating the beautiful dark brown skin of the duo, and surrounded by various hues of blue, Cabrera's color-saturated illustrations, a mix of single pages and double-page spreads, add to the gentle charm of the conversational text. Large and small pairs of everyday objects appear on the endpapers, bolstering the celebration of the mother/daughter relationship.

Reviewer: Eboni Njoku | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2021

(2) PS Illustrated by Paul Carrick. The text in this gentle, lulling bedtime story of maternal love is brief, but complete. The acrylic paintings seem in their spaciousness and immediacy to expand the book's small size: they brim with child-appealing, close-up portraits of mother animals and their babies. Everything about this small and cozy book--topic, tone, format--is just right for the intended audience.

Reviewer: Martha V. Parravano | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2000

(3) K-3 Illustrated by R. W. Alley. Clements demonstrates the meaning of self-reliance in this good-natured story of a mother-son camping trip. When difficulties arise, the mom doesn't rush to make things easier for her young child; instead, she patiently shows him how to solve the problems on his own. Expressive, affectionate illustrations portray the boy's changing emotions as he masters each challenge.

Reviewer: Martha Sibert

(3) PS Illustrated by Polona Lovšin. This tailor-made Mother's Day offering and companion to Daddies Are Awesome celebrates all that (feline) mamas do. For example: "Mommies are clever. / They know when you're sad. / They'll hug you and kiss you / when you're feeling bad." A good match for the affectionate text, the soft-hued illustrations portray various breeds of mother cats cuddling, protecting, and playing with their little ones.

Reviewer: Rachel L. Smith

(3) PS While in his bed, a llama gets worked up because he's convinced that his mother has abandoned him. Mama snaps--"Baby Llama, / what a tizzy! / Sometimes Mama's / very busy"--before reassuring him. The understated message--moms deserve a break--is refreshing in a picture book for young children, who will appreciate this llama drama's exaggerated facial expressions.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(3) PS Illustrated by Mary Lundquist. Told from the perspective of a mother watching her young daughter grow, this cheery, lyrical seasonal picture book documents what occurs in their lives from when they plant bulbs in autumn to when the flowers bloom in spring. Delicate illustrations marking important events in the girl's life--such as Halloween, a lost tooth, a broken arm, and a birthday--keep the story child-focused.

Reviewer: Bridget McCaffrey

(2) PS A little girl admires her mother's knitting talent more than her own drawing skills. When her mom tries to teach her to knit, both find that "it's not as easy as it looks." Mom gently steers frustration into collaboration; together they come up with something special ("a drawing we can wear") in a satisfying ending. Mixed-media illustrations add to the warm feel.

Reviewer: Robin L. Smith | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2015

(3) PS Illustrated by Axel Scheffler. In this rhyming story, a lost monkey keeps trying to describe his mother to a well-meaning but mixed-up butterfly. The butterfly leads him to all sorts of animals--from an elephant to a spider--before they finally locate Mom. Readers will likely chuckle at the butterfly's mistakes and enjoy the illustrations of forest fauna, including the comical long-nosed butterfly.

Reviewer: Martha Sibert

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Barbara McClintock. Maria (human) and Mouse Mouse (not surprisingly, a mouse) both like pink. They're both confident middle children. They even live in the same house. And, one night, both can't find their mothers. Readers are treated to detail-rich scenes, above and below the floorboards, in which Maria's and Mouse Mouse's lives echo each other. This happy-families story, just suspenseful enough, ends in cozy, lamplit resolution.

Reviewer: Sarah Ellis | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2014

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Rudy Gutierrez. A mother and daughter have a nice day together, starting with working in the garden and ending with a surprise Mother's Day celebration. The story effectively incorporates some Spanish words and phrases throughout the text, while accompanying illustrations in vibrant hues capture both the tale's contemporary setting and traditional Latino patterns and designs.

Reviewer: Tim Wadham

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Kathryn Brown. In poetic, rhythmic verse, a young pig lists the activities that her mama enjoys doing with her--dancing in slippers, biking in the rain, reading, swimming in the sea, and more. Delicate, detailed illustrations convey the loving relationship between mother and child through the seasons of the year.

Reviewer: Sheila M. Geraty

(2) PS Illustrated by Charnele Pinkney Barlow. An homage to all the African American women who are mothering children not biologically their own. Carol Olivia Clementine lives with Mama Rose because "Mommy and Daddy live miles away." She offers no explanation for why she doesn't live with her parents, but this reflects reality since children don't always know or understand why that might be the case. Though she misses her mother and father, Carol doesn't focus on what she lacks but instead emphasizes the richness of her life with Mama Rose, who does things "just like a Mama." This stylish woman gives Carol a bike for her sixth birthday, then shows her how to ride it; teaches Carol to tell time, play basketball, and make her own bed. Mama Rose sets boundaries and maintains high expectations for Carol--vegetables before dessert and chores before play--and offers praise when Carol meets those expectations. In bright watercolor, gouache, colored-pencil, and gel pen art, debut illustrator Barlow emphasizes the love in this child's life through the family portraits on the endpapers and the many details that suggest the closeness between Carol and Mama Rose. Like Jacqueline Woodson's Our Gracie Aunt and Coming On Home Soon (rev. 9/04), Duncan's story sheds positive light on nontraditional, yet commonplace, families.

Reviewer: Michelle H. Martin | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2020

(1) PS Illustrated by Judy Horacek. When a mother duck waddles onto a bridge, her five ducklings follow her--until, one by one, they fall into the river below. She agonizes over the situation in a repeated refrain and eventually figures it out. Brief but dramatic text, with numbers highlighted in orange, reinforces arithmetical concepts. Bright primary-and-secondary-colors art is both minimal and hilarious. Preschoolers will hardly notice they're learning in this silly, cheerful counting book.

Reviewer: Martha V. Parravano | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2018

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Julie Kwon. "Messy Marcy, your room is a sty! / Why can't you clean? Oh, why, Marcy, WHY?...Get yourself dressed, no mud stains allowed. / Please pick up your things, and make Mama proud." Wàigōng and Wàipó (Chinese for maternal grandpa and grandma) are coming today, so Mama wants Little Marcy to tidy up around the house. The girl complies by doing the laundry (leaving clothes scattered in her wake), vacuuming the floor (knocking over a lamp), and taking a quick bath (minor flood)--going above and beyond what her mother had asked. She is sure Mama will be impressed, but Mama, surveying the wreckage, appears to be speechless. With a sense of humor perfectly attuned to that of young children's, Fu tells this playfully relatable story. Her text follows consistent and clear rhyme schemes, including lines where Chinese and English words cleverly rhyme: "I'll start out by running the washing machine. / Mama will say, 'Your clothes! Hăo gānjìng!'" Kwon's cartoony illustrations, created in watercolor and colored pencil and digitally finished, are mostly full-bleed double-page spreads. They ­capture the lively and humorous moments in Marcy's messy home, welcoming readers to point out the details they notice along the way. A list of ­Chinese words is appended, ­including their English ­translations and pinyin (and a brief explanation of the latter).

Reviewer: Weileen Wang | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2021

(2) PS In a heartfelt first-person text, a young dog tells of initial mixed feelings about its adoptive single-parent mom (a cat); spare digital illustrations make the pair's species-specific differences plain to see. In the end, the narrator is comforted: "we are learning how to be a family." A hopeful, satisfying treatment of older-child adoption that speaks to the universal need for love and acceptance.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2016

(2) K-3 Goodale (Windows, rev. 11/17; Under the Lilacs, rev. 7/20) presents a gentle rumination on space and time, memory, and the enduring love of family. "Today, I am at my gramma's house, high on the hill, amongst the blueberry bushes," begins the adolescent narrator, her gaze open-heartedly trained on readers from a sun-dappled spread. "And also..." Now, with a page-turn, and in a muted purply palette, she's shown as a younger child: "...I am remembering camping with Mama," with a small adventure in the woods. The story continues, shifting to the grandmother: "Today, my gramma is at the kitchen, watching me from the window. And also... / ...she is remembering being a little girl in her mother's garden." The girl's mother's recollections (and those of the grandmother's cat) follow, before returning to the narrator. Now, as an adult, she's writing this very book while recalling--and re-illustrating, with subtle differences--her time at her grandmother's. The book concludes: "We are all here...and also there. / Always." It's a heady observation made somewhat more concrete and accessible by ­Goodale's finely attuned sense of childlike wonder and the illustrations' (made from monoprint, gouache, and blueberry ink) thoughtful compositions. A red bird on every spread helps situate viewers in place and time, past and present.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2022

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Jack E. Davis. In lieu of candy or flowers, T. Rex wants to do something special for his mom on Mother’s Day. Remembering past Mother's Day messes, she insists that a great big hug is all she really wants. Readers will appreciate the generous spirit behind each of T. Rex's less-than-useful gifts. Goofy cartoon illustrations add the extra humor that T. Rex's fans love.

Reviewer: Rebecca Reed Whidden

(3) PS Mama Penguin and her young chicks' weekly routine includes lessons in swimming, sliding, waddling, preening, fishing, and squawking; busy Mama rests on Sunday. It's all harder than it seems, but soon they'll be "even better" than Mama--what will she do then? (The answer is quite sweet.) Delicate watercolor and pencil illustrations against a white background convey the simple story's icy setting.

Reviewer: Sheila M. Geraty

(2) K-3 Translated by David Henry Wilson. From the start of this quirky and heartfelt German import, it is clear that there is something a bit mysterious happening. Endpapers show a child peeking out from between red stage curtains; these curtains set the scene for the drama that is the life of a performer's daughter. "My mother can be lots of different people. Sometimes she's nice. And sometimes she's nasty. Sometimes she's quiet, and sometimes she's loud. You see, my mother's an opera singer." The narrator knows that her mother is just acting as she dies onstage, but as the child explains, while sitting in a large theater seat with her knees up to her shoulders and tears streaming down her face, "every time it looks real." Happily, by the time the family leaves for home, the opera star is transformed back into Mother, arm-in-arm with her partner and flanked by the narrator and her smaller sibling. Haslbauer (whose own mother was an opera singer) employs smart pacing and dramatic page-turns as the narrator explains what it's like to be related to someone who is larger than life. Illustrations use unusual angles, exaggerated sizes, and long pencil and brush strokes to emphasize Mother's outsized personality and artistic impact.

Reviewer: Maeve Visser Knoth | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2022

(3) PS Illustrated by Barbara Lavallee. An Inuit girl asks her mother a series of questions, and the mother repeatedly answers that she will always love her daughter. The tenth anniversary edition of this comforting, attractively illustrated picture book is suitable for gift giving with a new cloth binding, a brief note about the Inuit masks portrayed in the art, and a print from the book.

Reviewer: Maeve Visser Knoth | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 1991

(3) PS Illustrated by Giuliano Ferri. In alternating statements about Mama Bear and Little Bear, this touching story compares and contrasts the perspectives of parents and their children: "Mama Bear treads familiar paths. Little Bear likes to find new paths." Illustrations with nicely varied compositions, rounded shapes (including the figures of the two bears), and a soft palette lend extra humor and depth to the text.

Reviewer: Martha Sibert

(3) PS As a precocious young bear tells of his hardworking mom, bright and appealingly detailed illustrations (see especially the labeled aerial view of Mom's bag) in watercolor and ink depict a happy Mom toting increasingly heavy cargo for her child and animal neighbors. After a crash, everyone learns to help her out. A rosy, child-level view of parental devotion (with a bonus allegory for overloaded adults).

Reviewer: Jessica Tackett MacDonald

(3) PS Illustrated by Jamie Littler. A playful puppy racks his brain for a word that can sum up his intense feelings of comfort, delight, excitement, love, etc. If you didn't already guess from the title, it's mom. Colorful, energetic vignettes of the lovable, tail-wagging pup hold the rhyming think-aloud together. (Note: the punny title and happy resolution both lose their punch if you don't pronounce "mom" like a Brit.)

Reviewer: Sethany Rancier Alongi

(1) K-3 In the night sky, Little Star and her mother bake a mooncake, the sweet treat associated with the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival. As the Big Mooncake hangs to cool, the girl's hunger overcomes her. It's all mesmerizing: Little Star's astral home; her outsized sense of mischief; the dwindling, nibbled-upon cake as a stand-in for the waning moon; and Lin's pleasing, soothing text, perfect for reading aloud to little moon-watchers on Earth.

Reviewer: Julie Danielson | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2018

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Mike Reed. When he's pretending to be a firefighter, a police officer, an EMT, a garbage collector, or another worker committed to serving his community, a young boy is too busy to hug his mom. Children will respond to the titular refrain and to the satisfying conclusion, in which the hard-driving little boy shows his soft side. The warm illustrations play a pivotal role in bringing the boy's active imagination to life.

Reviewer: CHristine Sarrazin

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Alex T. Smith. Matthew's sure his mom has X-ray vision. How else could she know he was standing up in the tub or jumping on the bed? When his test of this theory apparently fails, Matthew surmises (incorrectly), "She's just an ordinary mom, like all the rest." Cheery patterned mixed-media illustrations display the hair-bobbed, pearl-wearing superheroine.

Reviewer: Carrie Harasimowicz Sullivan

(1) PS Ava and her mother spend Saturdays together, but a series of misadventures derails their perfectly planned day. Mom tries to make the best of things, repeating the refrain: "Today will be special. Today will be splendid. Today is SATURDAY!" But when even Mom reaches her limit, Ava steps up. Mora's (Thank You, Omu!) gorgeous cut-paper and collage illustrations depict a colorful, bustling city. This simple, well-crafted tale holds universal lessons for children and adults alike.

Reviewer: Monique Harris | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2019

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Paula S. Barragan. These jubilant poems salute mothers and grandmothers. The offerings, penned by thirteen well-known and emerging Latino writers, are narrative and impressionistic, speckled with Spanish, and by turns romantic, nostalgic, sentimental, heartbreaking, and humorous in mood. The mixed-media illustrations are drenched with colors that capture each poem's temperament and setting.

Reviewer: Nell Beram | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2001

(1) K-3 Two "migrantes," a mother and her infant son, arrive on "the other side." Here they meet cultural challenges (customs, language) that are resolved at the San Francisco Public Library, with its "unimaginable" wealth of books that offer paths to literacy, community, even a career. Occasional Spanish words enrich the succinct, gently poetic text, illustrated with rich and vibrant pen-and-ink, acrylic, and collage art. Back matter sets the narrative in personal and historical context. Concurrently published in Spanish as Soñadores.

Reviewer: Joanna Rudge Long | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2018

(3) PS Illustrated by Laura Cornell. This seminal book about a little girl with lesbian moms has been newly illustrated in watercolor and gouache. The revised text (gone are details about Heather's conception and birth) focuses mainly on Heather's day at school--building block towers, playing dress-up, and drawing pictures of her family and comparing its make-up to that of her classmates'. The details are different, but the nontraditionalness remains.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2015

(3) PS Illustrated by Julia Gorton. In this rhyming tribute, a girl shares the activities that no one can do "just like Mama": "Nobody combs my hair just like Mama...Nobody snuggles just like Mama." The hearts-and-flowery pen-and-marker illustrations display the mother-daughter activities from a variety of interesting perspectives.

Reviewer: Carrie Harasimowicz Sullivan

(2) PS Illustrated by Carol Thompson. Two inviting board books from Heather Has Two Mommies author Newman present warm, matter-of-fact depictions of same-sex parents doting on their child (of indeterminate gender in both books). Jaunty rhyming couplets in the high-spirited child's voice take the smiling families through a day of exuberant fun, shown in bright, smudgy pen and watercolor illustrations. Review covers these titles: Daddy, Papa, and Me and Mommy, Mama, and Me.

Reviewer: Claire E. Gross | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2009

(2) PS Though signs on the opening page foreshadow drama, the narrator's description of events stays obliviously deadpan: "This is Mom. This is Mom's precious little baby. They are in the park together for some good, safe fun." By the page-turn, the baby has crawled away from distracted Mom, found a skateboard, and taken off on her own. With the cumulative energy of the Gingerbread Man, Skater Baby races through the park collecting objects: an umbrella from a picnicking couple, a dog from a dog-walker, a treat from an ice-cream seller, and more. Colorful cartoon art (in tidily patterned panels--at first) shows each object's owner joining the chase until there's quite a crowd in pursuit of Skater Baby and the lost items--always with Mom trailing behind, adding new terms of endearment to her ever-growing list: "My itty-bitty, lovey-dovey, teeny-weeny, honey bunny, cutie patootie, sweetie pie!" Meanwhile, the baby is headed straight for the skate park ("Skater Baby is totally rad") and the Mega Ramp. Things look like they could end badly, but a subsequent vertically oriented spread shows the baby coming "back down to solid ground" safely. Not for long! While everyone poses for a celebratory selfie, Skater Baby heads for her next adventure. The buildable details and exaggerated antics lend themselves well to sharing aloud one-on-one or with a group.

Reviewer: Julie Roach | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2022

(3) PS Illustrated by Lynn Munsinger. Published spring 1998. While these two back-to-back texts are the same, each features different pairs of Munsinger's familiar animals doing things differently: in Mommies, a mother mouse and child watch a sunset from a picnic spot, while in Daddies, a father fox and child view the sunset from a skyscraper observation deck. Art and text capably convey the message that although moms and dads aren't the same, they are each loads of fun to be with.

Reviewer: Jennifer M. Brabander

(2) PS Fans of Patricelli's board-book baby (most recently Doggie Gets Scared and Mad, Mad, MAD, both rev. 9/20) already know and love the adorable youngster, but here Mommy and Daddy (Mami and Papi in the concurrently published Spanish editions) get their own places to shine. In simple, lilting text, our protagonist discusses Mom and Dad's superlative traits and describes special time spent with each of them: "Mommy hugs, Mommy kisses. / Mommy says that I'm delicious! / Now we dance. Wiggle, wiggle. / I can make my mommy giggle." "Daddy likes to sing with me. / I play horsey on his knee...Daddy cooks. / Daddy cleans. / My daddy can do anything!" Patricelli's recognizable color-saturated and textured art, with thick black outlines and rosy-cheeked characters, is always welcome, and now, especially, pandemic-weary parents may appreciate the boost. Review covers these titles: Daddy and Mommy.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2021

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Akemi Gutiérrez. This bilingual tale transcends its "Flip This Book!" gimmick to provide a sweet, but not overly sappy, take on family resemblances from both father/son and mother/daughter perspectives. The simply composed illustrations depict joyful scenes of everyday life; readers will find affirmations here about their place in a family: "Mom...says that she can see our whole family on my face."

Reviewer: Tim Wadham

(1) PS In this artfully composed picture book, Raschka gets to the emotional core of the relationship between a young child and a trusted adult. Mama, on the verso, looks adoringly at her child, a blond, rosy-cheeked baby on the recto. On most of the double-page spreads, the characters and one or two words of text are oriented horizontally, facing and focused on each other across the gutter, which is emphasized with a thick blue line. From their respective pages, the pair claps and plays peek-a-boo and pat-a-cake. Very young children (and their caregivers) will recognize the mother and baby's familiar games as well as the obvious delight each takes in the other. The small book's square shape and Raschka's up-close watercolor portraits on plain white backgrounds bring the pair's actions and feelings to the fore. When Mama is suddenly distracted by something off-stage, the playtime connection spell is (briefly) broken. Over the next three spreads, blank left-hand pages--signaling Mama's absence--starkly confront an increasingly distraught Baby. Of course, Mama rushes back to comfort her upset child; the crisis is over, and relief is palpable. This everyday drama should resonate with the intended audience, who will likely find comfort in watching the events from the distance a book offers. Both characters satisfyingly acknowledge their audience in the end, where Baby--now reunited on the same page as Mama--waves safely from her arms. Be prepared for pleas of "Again, again!"

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2020

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Lee Wildish. A sibling duo gives familiar-sounding instructions on how to raise a "happy, healthy mom." If she gets cranky in the grocery store line, for example, "surprise her with a snack and a toy." The cartoony digital art shows that Mom's in on the joke. This inevitable follow-up to How to Surprise a Dad comically recognizes a tough and rewarding job.

Reviewer: Rachel L. Smith

(3) PS Illustrated by Laura J. Bryant. Elephant Little Gray and his mama spend a day together imagining what it would be like if their roles were reversed: Little Gray would take care of Mama, and she would feel very safe. There's a lulling cadence to the conversation, which will sound familiar both to young children and to their parents. Calming, affectionate illustrations create strong personalities for the elephants.

Reviewer: Miriam Steinberg-Egeth

(1) K-3 Illustrated by Helen Oxenbury. Big Momma is large, round, and as unperturbed as the cloud on which she sits; as powerful as her quintessential mother love for "that little baby sitting on her hip"; as creative as her male counterpart. The superb illustrations surprise the eye with their joyous variety. Among the many creation retellings and variations, this one takes the cake for most lovable, and for most benign deity, too--without sacrificing an iota of authority or reverence.

Reviewer: Joanna Rudge Long | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2003

(3) PS Illustrated by LeUyen Pham. A little girl puts her mom to bed--marching her upstairs, scrubbing her feet in the bath, monitoring teeth-brushing ("Did you brush your teeth?" "Yep." "A nice long time?" "Yep." "Good mommy"), picking out tomorrow's outfit, and "reading" her a book--before falling exhausted into her own bed. The conceit works quite well, with Pham's comical illustrations humorously extending Rosenthal's witty speech-balloon text.

Reviewer: Jennifer M. Brabander

(1) PS Illustrated by Lenny Lishchenko. A baby's perspective of being held in its anaana's (mother's) amautik ("the pouch in the back of a woman's parka where a baby can be carried") is explored in lulling, sensory-rich text and illustrations. Each spread begins with a feeling ("In my anaana's amautik, I feel warm"), followed by a lyrical comparison ("The warmth of her skin feels like sunshine"), then ending with a message of love ("I love being in my anaana's amautik"). The physical closeness of parent and child is reinforced in the warmhearted illustrations; it's because mother and baby are so close that we only see the top of baby's head, a small hand reaching out from the amautik, and an extreme close-up of anaana's face as she gives her child a kiss. Soft, soothing blues and whites form the backdrop of the illustrations, with bright pops of color, such as buttery-yellow sunshine, and textured bursts of flowers and fuzzy dandelion heads, reflecting the text's details and mood. This gentle story elevates the feelings of comfort and security that the amautik enables. A brief glossary (with pronunciation) of Inuktitut words is included, along with a website link to further resources.

Reviewer: Julie Hakim Azzam | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2020

(1) K-3 Illustrated by Matthew Cordell. Little Louie has a bad cold: "All he wanted...was his mother." But with his stuffy nose, his calls for "MOM!" sound like "BOB!"--the name of his big, slobbery dog, who comes running. Soon, everyone, including faithful Bob, is frustrated and confused. The coauthors' narrative is satisfying beyond the funny gimmick, offering depth and heart. Cordell's expressive, loose-lined illustrations enhance the humor and help move the plot forward.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2017

(3) K-3 Illustrated by S. Saelig Gallagher. Young Luisa wants to see her mama smile again. With the help of the staff and customers at the beauty salon where Mama works, Luisa plans a surprise party for her. The oil paint illustrations deftly capture the family and community love in this feel-good story that also stresses the importance of education and includes some humorous touches.

Reviewer: Christina Dorr

(3) PS Illustrated by Glo Coalson. In this board book edition, a little Inuit boy discovers that there is room on his mother's lap for himself, his favorite toys, and his baby sister. Coalson's soft illustrations do not suffer much from the size reduction, and certainly the older end of the board book set will enjoy the sentiments expressed in this simple, warm, and loving book.

Reviewer: Maeve Visser Knoth | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 1992

(2) PS In his sixth showdown, feisty Dinosaur challenges Mommy all day long, and "Dinosaur wins!" every time. The emphatic text and bold illustrations reflect Dinosaur's exuberance; the art also makes the most of the humorous situations. "Is Mommy down for the count?" Not quite. With a kiss, "Mommy wins!" This take on the mother/toddler dynamic will have both sides roaring with laughter.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2015

(2) PS Herbert is sure he is a fox, despite his rabbit ears and puffball tail. At home, Herbert's young sibling giggles as he constructs makeshift pointy ears, paints himself a dazzling red, and fashions a bushy tail out of mother rabbit's dress. Her angry response comes as no surprise. Herbert has not only made a mess but has also ruined her favorite dress. "Promise me you will be a good rabbit," she scolds again and again. Sturton's use of bright pastels lightens what could have been a heavy-handed message. The young rabbit doesn't give up on his dream; after retrieving his handmade tail from the trash and tying on his pointy ears, Herbert invites himself to play with the foxes in the park for the first time. When Mom once again disapproves, Herbert has finally had enough. "I AM A FOX!" he announces across a white page--empty save for his declaration and power stance. At last, Mom understands: "Yes. You are my fox." The story ends with a warm embrace and the reminder of the power of a parent's unconditional love.

Reviewer: Hill Saxton

(3) PS Following You and Me, Me and You: Brothers, Tanco's book features a girl who describes how she's helpful to her mother (e.g., "I follow your lead... / and keep your secrets safe"). Tanco's characteristically spare line art--this time in black, gray, and watermelon red--effectively reveals what the narrator doesn't, as when she kicks a ball that inadvertently nearly beans her mom ("I test...your reflexes").

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Katie Kath. Although our two protagonists spend little of the book together, they are connected throughout by their hard work and achievement. This family of two starts the day in a groggy daze as the sun rises over the breakfast table. Tate's text is concise, with many pages featuring only a brief list. "Cereal. Bananas. Milk" describes the daughter's breakfast, while mom takes "Orange juice. Toast. Coffee." In the car, the daughter anxiously taps her fingers on the backseat while mom does the same on the steering wheel. "Nervous?" the mother asks. "A little. You?" the daughter replies. Over the next several pages we watch the day unfold in side-by-side illustrations, often displayed in multiple panels. While the daughter tackles baseball tryouts, the mom starts a new bricklaying job. What's touched on in the text is made specific in Kath's watercolor and pastel illustrations. Daughter's successful base hit is shown opposite two panels of mom's construction project ("Butter. Scrape. Smooth"). We feel mom's pride in her handiwork and see it reflected in her smile across the spread from her daughter's own satisfied stance on the pitching mound ("Catch. Toss. Grin"). After their eventful day, each sleeps soundly, ready to give it their all again the next time. Details such as the umpire's bubblegum bubble as our ballplayer prepares her pitch, and Mom's colorful arm tattoo, add comfort and, for many, familiarity to this welcome and unconventional family story.

Reviewer: Hill Saxton | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2020

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Ebony Glenn. A young girl admires her mother and the bright khimars she uses to cover her head in observance of her Muslim faith. As she plays dress-up with her mother's yellow khimar, cheerful illustrations show the girl's imaginative play ("I am a superhero in a cape") and love for her family. A sweet family story with an affirming depiction of a black Muslim family in a supportive multicultural community.

Reviewer: Julie Hakim Azzam

(1) PS In her first solo picture book, Tobia (illustrator of the beloved Anna Hibiscus books) crafts an affecting and wordless tale of separation, growth, neighborliness, and love. Viewers are introduced to young Oscar, with small suitcase in tow, as he's dropped off by a loved one (perhaps his mother) at the home of a kindly woman (maybe another family member). Thoughtfully paced mixed-media panel illustrations emphasize Oscar's initial sadness and the comfort he subsequently receives from the woman as he settles in. His interest in flowers leads the pair to a garden shop, where they buy seeds and potting materials that Oscar transports back to the apartment on his red tricycle. As Oscar tends the growing plants, some time passes, shown in the illustrations via the changing of weather, light, and the construction of a new building visible through an apartment window. The blooming flowers eventually overcrowd the apartment until sweet, thoughtful Oscar decides to share some with the neighbors, bringing joy and new friendships. And soon after, Oscar gets a happy ending with the return of his caretaker. Tobia's visual narrative is full of lovely details: the stuffed monkey Oscar takes everywhere, an attentive gray cat, even the endpapers depicting the apartment tower before and after Oscar's colorful improvements. Share this warmhearted story with any preschooler experiencing separation from a loved one.

Reviewer: Cynthia K. Ritter | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2021

(2) PS Translated by Bill Nagelkerke. Told from the baby's point of view ("I've known my mama for a long time"), this playful offering explores, through two elephant characters, the strong emotional bond between parent and child. They play together; they run errands together; and sometimes Mama gets "really ANGRY" when her baby gets into mischief ("altering" her dress with scissors, or watering houseplants by urinating on them). Still, our narrator knows, without having to be told, of Mama's unconditional love. Nearly every spread is filled with the mother, stocky and sturdy, as she plays with her child, with no background details to distract from their interactions. Throughout, the baby wears white pants adorned with orange stars; at bedtime, Mama "shakes the stars off my pants," and the baby elephant stares in wonder at the orange stars floating above, the same ones that adorn the opening and closing endpapers.

Reviewer: Julie Danielson | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2020

(3) PS Young zebra Ollie bakes banana bread and goes to the park with his dad; with his mom he plays with butterflies and hides in the grass. These simple shared activities effectively speak to the love between Ollie and his parents. The books' small trim size and pleasing rhymes combined with their spare, soft-hued ink illustrations give the stories an intimate feel. Review covers these titles: I Love My Dad and I Love My Mom.

Reviewer: Rebecca Reed Whidden

(3) K-3 Translated by Andrew Rushton. Illustrated by Eve Tharlet. Davy and his rabbit siblings prepare for Mother's Day by practicing the behaviors detailed in their parents' book, The Well-Raised Bunny. The resulting lunch party delights Davy's mom and convinces the bunnies that good behavior is "not as difficult as it seems." The cheery watercolor illustrations and gentle humor help make the lesson go down easy.

Reviewer: Maeve Visser Knoth

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Doug Cushman. In this companion to What Dads Can't Do, a little dinosaur lists all the things that moms can't do on their own, such as picking out clothes, making lunch, and watching scary movies. The humorous illustrations, which tell a somewhat different story (the little dinosaur really needs his mom's help), playfully capture this loving relationship from morning to bedtime.

Reviewer: Sheila M. Geraty