Mama's day with Little Gray

Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

From talented illustrator Laura Bryant and gifted newcomer Aimee Reid comes a charming, heartwarming story about a little elephant's love for his mama.

"Mama, when I grow up, will you grow down?"

What would it be like if, one day, Little Gray were the big elephant and Mama the small one? Little Gray can picture it perfectly. He'd shade her from the sun, teach her to make mud, and find pictures in the clouds with her. In fact, he would do for her exactly what she does for him.

Reviews provided by Syndetics

Publishers Weekly Review

In Reid's debut children's book, as a mother elephant and her calf stroll through the grasslands, Little Gray imagines the two of them switching places. "'If I grew up and you were my calf.... I'd spend every day with you," he says. "I would be your calf and stay right by your side," his mother responds. Bryant's dewy, pastel palette fills the landscape as the elephants saunter along, acting out each of the scenarios that the calf entertains. " 'I could show you how to make mud,' said Little Gray. 'I know you'd be a good teacher,' Mama said." An abundantly sweet depiction of a child's gentle nudging for assurance. Ages 2-5. Author's agent: Jill Corcoran, Jill Corcoran Literary Agency. (Apr.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

School Library Journal Review

PreS-K-As a baby elephant spends a day with her mother, she considers "what if" she were big and her mother were small. Little Gray determines that she would do everything that her mother is doing with her, like strolling through fields of grass, eating sweet leaves off of a high tree, swimming, and sleeping cuddled up together. Most of all, Little Gray promises that she would keep her mother safe, just as she feels on this perfect day. The story reads like a combination of Robert Munsch's Love You Forever (Firefly, 1995) and Barbara M. Joosse's Mama, Do You Love Me? (Chronicle, 1998), in which the child pretends and the parent patiently plays along. Soft, watercolor illustrations highlight the expressive faces of the two animals and enhance the theme of unconditional love between parent and child.-Jennifer Miskec, Longwood University, Farmville, VA (c) Copyright 2014. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Horn Book Review

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. (c) Copyright 2014. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.