Just What Mama Needs (Hardcover)

~ (Author), Amiko Hirao (Illustrator)

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-K—Each day of the week, Abby dresses up to assume an exciting identity. The pup's equally imaginative mother welcomes these fancy flights, each time exclaiming, "Just what I need," and then makes use of the experiment of the day. When Abby is a pirate, she and mom "swab the decks." When she announces that she is a witch, they concoct a delicious brew called soup. On Sunday, when Abby is herself, her mother's response remains the same, with a cuddle for good measure. Glenn's descriptive text and use of onomatopoeia provide an ideal read-aloud. A "Yee-haw!" on the cowgirl page and three wishes when Abby's a genie will keep youngsters guessing what this engaging dog will try next. Hirao's collage and colored-pencil art, expressed on a variety of paper surfaces, alternates stark views as Abby introduces a costume, followed by busy scenes of her imagination and the real-life labors. A view of "rounding up livestock" (two escaped hamsters) is especially comic. Young listeners will take pleasure in finding Abby's lithe black cat, which appears in the larger scenes. There's something to please nearly everyone in this tale.—Gay Lynn Van Vleck, Henrico County Library, Glen Allen, VA
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Review

Abby likes to dress up and pretend that she is someone else. On Monday, she is a pirate who swaggers and shouts "Yo ho ho." Her mother is delighted and has Abby help her swab the deck, otherwise known as the kitchen floor. On Tuesday, Abby looks like Sherlock Holmes, and her mother puts her to work finding her missing socks and underwear. Wednesday brings a cowgirl, Thursday a witch, Friday a genie who grants three wishes which mother adroitly turns into a clean up of Abby's room. The crowning moments come on Saturday when Abby is a queen barking orders and paying with coins from the palace treasury at the grocery store. Finally on Sunday, her mother is in for a surprise, because Abby is not pretending to be anyone other than herself. The story is clever and the canine family members created by Hirao are a perfect match. It is also a great opportunity to learn the days of the week. (Children's Literature - Marilyn Courtot )

On Monday, Abby dresses as a pirate - just the ticket, says Mama, to help swab the kitchen floor. On Tuesday, she's a detective, perfect for pulling missing socks and underwear from the wash. Cast as floppy eared pooches in Hirao's cheery collage-and-paint scenes, Abby and her ever-inventive Mama go through an entire week of familiar domestic tasks together. Then on Sunday Abby stumps her parent by dressing in a favorite shirt: " 'Are you an artist?' 'No,' said Abby. 'A drummer?' 'No,' said Abby. 'A zookeeper? A yodeler?' " No, she finally declares, " 'Today I am . . . ME!' " Mama responds with a hug and her own declaration that an "Abby" is what she needs most of all. As cozy as it can get without falling into gooey sentimentality, this playful colloquy probably won't change anyone's attitude about doing chores, but it may make them seem a little less onerous. (Picture book. 6-8) (Kirkus Reviews )

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4-8
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Harcourt Children's Books (April 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0152057595
• ISBN-13: 978-0152057596
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 8.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,033,869 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Delightful!, May 14, 2008

By	MarLayne Sinclair (Provo, UT) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book is simply delightful. Well-written, creative, imaginative, educational and a story line that "warms the cockles of the heart". My three year old loves to read and re-read and now asks me, with a glint in her eye, if she is just what I need. Not only is the book fun to read but it has opened up a whole new dimension in creative play and interaction. It is a "must have" book for anyone's book shelf.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fabulous!, May 13, 2008

By	K.D. - See all my reviews

Darling book that teaches the days of the week and turns chores into exciting adventures. I read it to my 5 year old niece and she loved it! Imaginative, creative and all around fun to read, very enjoyable book for children as well as the adults who read it to them!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Stand-Out, May 12, 2008

By	Kathryn L. Soper - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Pleasing to the eyes and ears, this picture book is great for group storytimes as well as for reading to kids at home. The story is inventive and charming, and the parent-child relationship depicted is tender without being sappy. The text rolls easily off the tongue. Plus, the paper-cutout artwork is fantastic. A stand-out!