Mama, If You Had a Wish [Paperback]

Jeanne Modesitt (Author), Robin Spowart (Illustrator)

Book Description

In a tender exchange with his mother, Little Bunny asks, "if you had a wish, would you wish I never cried?" "No, Little Bunny", answers Mama, "but it does make me sad to see you cry". Mama's greatest wish, as this poetic tale makes so clear, is for her Little Bunny to be himself, "because I love you just the way you are". Full color.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Although this bunny tale never ventures far beyond its warren in terms of creativity, it does realize its own worthy purpose: promoting acceptance and, indeed, love of oneself, rabbit warts and all. Little Bunny asks his mother if she had one wish, would she wish that Little Bunny never got mad? Or sad? Or that he looked different? At last Mama tells him, "I wish for you to be yourself . . . because I love you just the way you are." This quiet, rather unsurprising exchange is depicted in the striking, almost surreal world of Spowart's intensely colored paintings. Perhaps better used in this team's magical The Night Call, the chimerical illustration style seems a bit incongruous here, given the homey text. Nevertheless, the book's message is directly on target for little bunnies who need a dose of unconditional love. Ages 3-6.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

Booklist Spowart's luminous paintings, rich in hues of green, blue, and fuscia, lend an air of quiet dreaminess to this gentle, reassuring text. Reminiscent of Margaret Wise Brown's The Runaway Bunny (1972), the brief, predictable text and simple illustrations will make this a popular bedtime read or story hour offering. -- Review --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 40 pages
• Publisher: Aladdin; 1st, First Edition edition (February 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0689824122
• ISBN-13: 978-0689824128
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 9 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,157,004 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Little Bunny learns those who love us never see our faults., October 14, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Mama, If You Had a Wish (Hardcover)

Little Bunny asks his Mama what her wish would be if she could change one thing about her child. Throughout the book Little Bunny asks his mother if she would change the faults he possess. Each time Mama tells her little child she would wish to change him. At the end of the book Little Bunny learns that the people who protect and care for him, love him just as he is.

This book provides a good learning experience for a child. The readers are taught that the people who love them only see the good inside them. They are perfect as they are, and their loved ones would never wish to change them. The book provides a happy tale with bright pictures and a warm ending.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "I wish for you to be yourself...", June 24, 2000

By 

Carol Frost Vercollone - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mama, If You Had a Wish (Paperback)

This simple book conveys a mother's loving wish for her toddler bunny's self-acceptance. This bunny worries about being imperfect - maybe like some moms reading this? Great soothing message for kids and parents! I use this book to counsel parents-to-be that helping your child [or yourself] have good self-esteem [even if they're adopted or conceived via DI, the topic of my book] doesn't have to be that complicated. Great for single moms too!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Simple and Essential Message, December 17, 2007

By 

V. Meinhardt (Omaha, NE United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Mama, If You Had a Wish (Paperback)

This wonderful book may be simple and predictable, but it gives children the essential message that you love them no matter what. I own this book and am buying another for a nephew. It has a special place in my heart as a remember reading it at bedtime snuggled up with my children when they were toddlers.

Yes, we all should know that we are loved no matter what, but it never hurts to hear it again. And again. And again.