I'm Made of Mama's Milk [Board book]

Mary Olsen (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 0 and up

In simple rhyming verse, a blissful and contented nursling describes her love for nursing, how breast feeding benefits her, and when, where and how she nurses her mother. Colorful and dreamy soft-focus images realistically depict the joyful and sensual bond between the mother and child as well as the support and adoration of the father.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"..a long-overdue book.. the perfect gift for a First Birthday."

Rating:5/5 -- Compleat Mother Magazine, January 25, 2003

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 0 and up
  
• Board book: 24 pages
• Publisher: Mary Olsen Books (June 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0971537402
• ISBN-13: 978-0971537408
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 6.3 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (56 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #765,750 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

67 of 70 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars at least there's ONE board book showing a nursing toddler, October 24, 2004

By 

YinYang (SoCal, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: I'm Made of Mama's Milk (Board book)

I ordered this, despite the mixed reviews, because I really wanted something to begin to balance all the bottle-feeding shown in children's books, TV, etc., and I figured it would be better than nothing. I'd give it five stars for concept and intent, but just one star for execution.

As others have said, the photos are soft-focus-y (if you're feeling charitable) or blurry and grainy (if you're not), and the book is designed with a really limited palette of pinkish-orangish-brownish tones. My 16-month-old son has rejected this book every time I've tried to share it with him, probably because it's just not very engaging visually. We'll try again when he's older and a little more verbal and we can discuss what's going on in the images more.

I also agree with many reviewers that the near-nude images of the mother -- while beautiful and natural and a lovely expression of the tenderness and vulnerability that comes with breastfeeding -- don't accurately reflect my matter-of-fact, day-to-day experience of nursing or the experience of most of my friends who breastfeed. If there is to be only one board book available showing and discussing this experience for todders, I wish it were one with a variety of images, showing moms and nurslings of all shapes and sizes and colors, nursing in all kinds of situations and with breasts large and small, exposed, semi-exposed, or not visible.

Here's hoping that we'll soon have many, many board books, picture books, and other media that not only focus on the wonderful ordinariness of breastfeeding babies, toddlers, and preschoolers but also incorporate it as an incidental element.

23 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A sweet story of extended nursing!, July 20, 2002

By 

MyParenTime.com "myparentimesfamily" (USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: I'm Made of Mama's Milk (Board book)

Being a mom who breastfed her child until one month after her third birthday, I can totally relate to this story of extended nursing. I can remember that special time like it was yesterday...my daughter's sweet face smiling back up at me as she was nursing, her hands gently tugging at my hair, her eyes slowly drifting into a deep sleep. What a wonderful experience it was for the both of us.

The book, "I'm Made of Mama's Milk," by Mary Olsen, is a short rhyming story that captures the nursing experiences of a toddler and her family. Not only is this book special for nursing mothers and their children, but it's also a good book for non-nursing mothers to share with their children. Most of the time non-nursing children will have the opportunity to see children who are nursing, and this book will help to clear up any questions they may have. I think it's simple enough for even very young children to understand.

MyParenTime.com highly recommends this book -- it's perfect for babies and toddlers, whether they're nursing or not! The book is made of sturdy cardboard pages, and shows softened images of a toddler and her family. Many of these images show the toddler nursing and smiling. Other images show the toddler enjoying her family :). On the last page of the book, there is a reflective foil where the child reading the book can look inside and see themselves. Babies and toddlers just love looking at themselves! What a sweet book to accompany what is bound to be a very sweet time in your child's life :).

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Every Nursing Toddler Should Have This Book!, July 13, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: I'm Made of Mama's Milk (Board book)

This is a wonderful book written from the perspective of a nursing toddler. This is a nice sized board book with 24 pages! I believe it may be the only board book about breastfeeding. It has beautiful pictures and a wonderful verse. My son loves for me to read this to him while he nurses. I can't tell you how many times we have read it. I feel that reading this book with my son is a way of showing him how special he is and how wonderful it is that we have this special bond together. I think all nursing mothers and toddlers should have a copy of this book.