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Young Reading: Daughters handle Mom's reviews today
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Published: May 11, 2008
Mother's Day: the time of year when we take over our mom's job. This is our third year of reviewing books as part of our mom's Mother's Day present. We can't buy her books as presents because we have a whole house and garage full of books, but maybe you can consider some of these classics-to-be to give and read on your Mother's Day.
□ Reviewed by Marlee, who put a smushed bug on her oldest sister after finishing her reviews. Her sister screamed:
BABY BRAINS AND ROBOMOM: The Smartest Baby in the Whole World. By Simon James. Candlewick. Ages 4-7. $15.99.
Baby Brains, the smartest baby in the whole wide world, invents a robot to help his mother around the house. The robot is named RoboMom. RoboMom does the laundry and fixes dinner while washing the dishes, too. RoboMom helps wash the car, change Baby Brains' diaper and give Baby Brains a bath. Is RoboMom doing too much? Find out when you read the book! I think the lesson in the book is that you should be happy with what your mother does for you.
MOTHER'S SONG: A Lullaby. By Ellin Greene. Clarion. Ages 3-5. $17.
This book is a lullaby, and it tells how much the mother appreciates her daughter's love. There are more things the mother appreciates, such as how pretty her daughter is, how pretty her smile is and how pretty her daughter's eyes are. I like this book because it has a song in it. (A note from Marlee's Mom -- the usual reviewer -- I enjoyed listening to Marlee "sing" this book out loud, devising her own and different melodies each time she read it.)
MOTHER, YOU'RE THE BEST! (BUT SISTER, YOU'RE A PEST!) By Diane deGroat. HarperCollins. Ages 3-8. $16.99.
This book is about a possum named Gilbert that tries to do good things for his mom. Gilbert brings breakfast to her in bed. He makes a card for her. He tries to get ice cream to her. None of that stuff works out. His mom says, I got the best present from you, and that is to take care of your sister. This is because he tucked his sister in and took her to the store. He calls his sister a pest because she always wants to snuggle with his mom when he doesn't want her to.
□ Reviewed by Kilby, who enjoys playing high notes on her trumpet late at night:
THE MOMS' BOOK FOR THE MOM WHO'S BEST AT EVERYTHING. By Alison Maloney. For all mothers. Scholastic. $9.99.
The Mom's Book for the Mom Who's Best at Everything is for mothers who need help with their mothering. It has tips about waking up children, curing night-time fright nerves, getting children to bed and throwing the best parties. It also has excuses about not doing housework, like "Haven't you ever heard of spring cleaning? Once a year is enough." The book also includes things you will never hear a mother say to her child such as "Be good and I'll buy you a motorcycle," and "Could you turn up the music louder so I can enjoy it, too?"
I think that all mothers should get this book because it relates to everybody in some way including the mother. I would encourage my mother to use tip No. 10 for lights out: "If all else fails, let them stay up as late as they want. Hopefully, they will learn their lesson when they have to spend the next day sleep-deprived in school." I would like my mother to use that tip because she always wants us to get in bed too early.
□ Reviewed by Hanna, who wishes that Marlee would keep her smushed bugs to herself and that Kilby wouldn't practice her trumpet while Hannah is reading.
LOVE ME TENDER. By Audrey Couloumbis. Random House. Ages 12 and up. $16.99.
The catchy cover of Love Me Tender may draw your attention because the cover's paper dolls are cut out of a map of our area. Clemmons, High Point, Lexington, Greensboro and Hanging Rock State Park are featured if you look close enough.
This book deals with mother-daughter relationships that can be rocky. Elvira is a spunky 13-year-old with an 8-year-old sister named Kerrie. Her father is a talented Elvis impersonator who was recently fired by his landscaping clients. Elvira and Kerrie's mother, Mel, found out she was pregnant at about the same time that her husband was fired. Elvira does not want another sibling because she will be forced to take care of him or her just as Mel makes her take care of Kerrie.
When his dog, Hound, dies, their dad storms off angrily to Las Vegas to enter an Elvis impersonating contest. Mel's sister calls, saying that their mother's "time has come." Mel rushes to Memphis to her mother and sister. She has not seen either one since she ran off with Elvira and Kerrie's father years earlier, and they still haven't forgiven each other. This novel is filled with grandmother-mother-daughter bonding and forgiveness. It is a quirky but great read for any girl or woman.
■ Monica Young can be reached at cyoung9@triad.rr.com.
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