Customer Reviews

Hazel's Amazing Mother (Picture Puffins)

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

My daughter, who is now 5 1/2, absolutely loved this book from the time she was about 2. It is a delightful story and the artwork is whimsical and fun. When she was little, she particularly loved the last page of the book where Hazel and her mother have their picnic. She would point out each type of food and name it for me. To this day, when she has a piece of toast with jam, she says, "I'll have a piece of toast with jam from the jelly man."

My three-year-old daughter was immediately drawn into this wonderful story of a Mom who comes to the rescue. I still have days when I wish my mom could rescue me, so I enjoyed this tale, too. And the artwork is pure delight!

Hazel's Amazing Mother is a wonderful book, full of excitement and adventure. Hazel is her mother's biggest fan -- and for good reason! Her mother comes to the rescue in a very unusual way! Read it with someone you love

My grandkids love this book. We've read it several times in the few days we've owned it.

I remember borrowing this book from the library many times as a child. I bought it for myself as an adult (I don't have any kids to read it to yet) because it has a cute story and lovely illustrations. Mother to the rescue!

I am a 3rd grade teacher and I've been using this book with my students for a few years now. It is a great story for students to make connections with. Unfortunately they all have either seen or experienced bullying. The instinct that mothers have in sensing their children are in danger when they are nowhere near, is also evident in this story. It has a great ending and kids will love it!

I adore this book - Wells' usual humor and art full of colorful details is part of that. I've thought of it as great for moms - single moms too, BTW - Hazel's mom just knows when she needs help and rescues her from bad times. But I realize as I review this book that the text raises scary topics too - Hazel goes off by herself to the bakery [what age is Hazel and where does SHE live! that happens in another Wells' fav of mine, Bunny Cakes - they're badgers, maybe badgers are more trusting than human moms!] Then more scary stuff - Hazel gets lost and kids in the park are mean to her. It might be reassuring to all readers, parents and kids, that Hazel's mom miraculously heals all, but I guess this is best to read when you want to talk about something scary that has happened or is worrying your child - because if she/he wasn't already scared of kids being mean, this book would do it! The message of a strong, protective mom applies best when there are difficult people with whom your child needs help, because this only works out idyllically for Hazel and her mom, not with the kids made to fix Hazel's doll Eleanor. I counsel parents-to-be who are worried their child will someday be teased [because they're adopted or conceived with donor sperm, the topic of my book!] and this might help someone laughingly reflect on the power of love to make things all work out right - with the help of a ladyfinger or two!

We found this book at the library and since my daughter, who just turned 4, is a fan of Max and Ruby stories I thought she might enjoy this one. Well, as soon as we got to the part about the bullies terrorizing Hazel and her doll I knew we were in trouble as my daughter is very sensitive and dislikes this kind of stuff. I was right. She burst into tears and I had to try and comfort and calm her while trying to finish the story and show her the doll was going to be okay. I'm not a fan of this book at all. I think it's too harsh for young children and I won't be reading it again.

I have a 3-yr-old daughter named Hazel so I was thu-rilled to find this book at the library (a book about ME!) I decided if it was even slightly good we would buy it for sure. So clearly I went into this hoping and wanting to love the book. Unfortunately it started bad, with Hazel being sent off on errands by herself, and only got worse, with Hazel getting lost (obviously she was too young to go out alone), then being cornered by bullies, then having her doll and carriage destroyed by them. At this point in the story I started making up my own words, changing the story for my daughter so it would be a little easier to enjoy.

I was hoping it could be salvaged by Hazel's mother out looking for her (worried because she didn't come home), finding her and comforting her at least. But instead out of nowhere her mom gets swept up by a strong wind, landed in the tree above Hazel, and starts booming commands to the bullies to fix the doll and carriage. It just seemed very disjointed as a story and I didn't find what the mom did all that amazing - fighting Hazel's fight for her instead of using the experience to comfort and teach. It was just weird, and neither me nor my daughter wanted to read it again.

Sometimes I wonder how some books get published.