My Mom

Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

We first meet Mom over a cup of coffee, clad in a floral robe. The robe is ever present as her child describes her wondrous abilities and traits. The ultimate message that shines forth is: "I love my mom. And you know what? SHE LOVES ME! (And she always will.)"

"With simplicity, strength, and complete understanding of children's perceptions, Browne uses the voice of an unseen child to praise one mother - and, by extension, all moms." - Booklist

"The sentiment is so pure that this tale will be a beloved addition to a family's repertoire of stories to treasure." - Kirkus Reviews

Reviews provided by Syndetics

Publishers Weekly Review

PW said of Anthony Browne's My Dad, "With well-measured doses of hyperbole, sentiment and humor, Browne delivers an endearing paean to patriarchs." In the companion, My Mom, Browne similarly salutes mothers. "My mom's a... brilliant juggler," reads one caption, as she literally "juggles" images of a purse, car, house and teddy bear. Dad's robe was plaid, Mom's is flowered, which nicely segues into an homage to her green thumb-and fingers. (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved

School Library Journal Review

PreS-Gr 2-While Browne has paid homage to the art of motherhood in the past, his latest exploration offers unadulterated affection and adoration. Choosing not to contrast the main character with her mate in this setting allows the author to put aside the sophomoric and rough-hewn behavior of his typical father figures in favor of a gentle sweetness and good-natured humor. Mom is first pictured in a floral bathrobe, coffee cup in hand; readers glean that, "She's nice, my mom." Each ensuing page portrays her many talents and Browne's clever conceits. As a "fantastic cook," she oversees an array of cakes a la artist Wayne Thiebaud, one sporting a gorilla face. As the musical angel, her pose re-creates a Piero della Francesca painting. When viewers see what she could be, they are treated to a movie-star mom, dress billowing upward like Marilyn Monroe's. In each scene, the flowers-and-hearts fabric is part of her costume, as are the pink, fuzzy slippers, where possible. This loving tribute is sure to be a hit with parents and children at storytimes and for one-on-one sharing.-Wendy Lukehart, Washington DC Public Library (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Booklist Review

PreS-Gr. 2. With simplicity, strength, and complete understanding of children's perceptions, Browne uses the voice of an unseen child to praise one mother--and by extension, all moms. The introductory page shows a mother who looks like many others, with an unadorned face and wavy hair that hasn't seen a haircut in a while. Clutching a cup of coffee and wearing a delicately flowered robe over a striped tee, she stares out at the audience, while the text notes, She's nice, my mom. By the book's conclusion, she's really, really nice. She's also a good deal more: a fantastic cook, a brilliant juggler, a gardener. Browne uses touches of satire effectively in the art: Mom is the strongest woman in the world as she schlepps grocery bags into the house. There are touches of whimsy, too, as when Mom's flowered robe turns into an armchair. As always, Browne's paintings hold attention, whether depicting images true to life or flights of fancy, and the honesty of the narrator's emotions and Mom's devotion shine through. --Ilene Cooper Copyright 2005 Booklist

Horn Book Review

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. (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. All rights reserved.

Kirkus Book Review

Browne crafts a heart-warming testimony to mothers, as told from a child's perspective. With simple verse, he reveals the absolute wonder, bordering on hero-worship, with which children regard their mothers. "She's a great painter" (putting on lipstick) and "the STRONGEST woman in the world" (carrying the groceries). She embodies everything from the beauty of a butterfly to the coziness of a favorite stuffed chair. The child lovingly believes that while his mom is capable of doing anything--from movie-stardom to lunar visits--she is and always will remain his mom first and foremost. Browne's illustrations deliberately portray an ordinary-looking woman made extraordinary through the beloved gaze of her child. Through her many transformations, he always depicts her wearing some version of her comfy flowered robe, whether a ballerina's tutu, a tie on the executive mom or, typically Browne, the fabric covering that cozy chair (the feet of which are covered in her fuzzy pink slippers). For the reader, Brown artfully includes a heart theme in each illustration that is sometimes straightforward and at other times more stealthily hidden. Although the theme is familiar, the sentiment is so pure that this tale will be a beloved addition to a family's repertoire of stories to treasure. (Picture book. 4-8) Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.