From Booklist
In rhythms reminiscent of those in Margaret Wise Brown’s Runaway Bunny, a mother’s endearments to her baby begin, “If I were a sailor, I would sail the world with you, / With sails of cotton candy and a handy penguin crew,” and close with “And if I were a genie, / I would make your dreams come true. . . / Because you are my baby / I would do anything for you.” In between, Mother assumes a variety of professions, including train engineer, mountaineer, and geologist. North’s rhyming text is occasionally forced, but her imagined motherly roles offer occasions for visualization of Baby’s reactions (one spread shows him catching a winning touchdown in his footy pajamas). Hall’s watercolors have a golden tone, as if suffused with late afternoon sun, and his retro, subdued palette anchors a naive style that calls up Syd Hoff’s cartoons. The sentimental text is balanced by simple geometric shapes that evoke rockets, sea life, and airplanes adventuring happily together in uncluttered spreads. Preschool. --Janice Del Negro
Product Description
An imaginative and heartwarming ode that celebrates a parent’s affection for a child
If I were a skywriter, I’d write your name up high
In sparkling golden loop-the-loops across a summer sky.
To what heights will a mom or dad go to celebrate their love for a son or daughter? Will they climb Mount Everest? Will they write a hit song? From making pizza as a chef and blasting off as an astronaut visiting Mars, to gathering gemstones as a geologist and granting wishes as a genie, a parent’s fanciful desires for his or her child come true as the child discovers each wonder while mom lovingly looks on. This book is a great read aloud at storytime to subtly introduce careers, soothing as a bedtime book or lullaby, and an ideal gift for new mothers and for Mother’s Day and Father’s Day.
The dynamic first-time author and illustrator team treats parents and children to a story that celebrates affection with imagination. The free lines and warm, soft colors of Marcellus Hall’s illustrations bring to life Sherry North’s rhythmic and lively text, resulting in a heartfelt testament to the boundless love of a parent.
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