Mama [Hardcover]

Kelly Jones (Author), Ken Kewley (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 1 and up

With a baby brother who talks all of the time but can only say one word, "Mama," it is up to his big sister to teach everyone else exactly what her brother is saying. "Mama" can mean he is happy. "Mama" can mean he's sad. His big sister discovers that he even calls out "Mama" when he wants his dad. Cleverly told in the voice of an insightful big sister, this book captures the bond between a little girl and her baby brother with an exquisite blend of funny rhymes and striking collages. Nurturing the bond between siblings, the bold, colorful artwork conveys important lessons about mutual respect and the importance of each child's role within the family.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Kelly Jones is a former production director at Daily Variety. She lives in Calabasas, California. Ken Kewley is a painter. He lives in Easton, Pennsylvania.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 1 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Stunt Publishing (September 28, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0974593001
• ISBN-13: 978-0974593005
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 8 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,989,149 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Return to the Innocence and Art of Storytelling., February 23, 2005

By 

Tyrone V. Banks (Newington, CT USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Mama (Hardcover)

Reviewed by: Tyrone Vincent Banks

MAMA is a touching story that many of us, as parents and children, can relate to. It's a story being told by the older sister of a child who uses one word that encompasses all of his happiness, fears and needs. The word is simply "Mama!" The author, Kelly Jones, tells the story in a simple poetic format. We look at the images and recall our first words or the first words of our children or siblings. It is truly a miracle to watch a child evolve into the adult that they will become and we hope that they too will remember the adventures that they most certainly will find themselves involved in.

As an individual I can recall my use of the word "Mama" several decades ago when times were simple and impossible problems were resolved by my mother. I've told myself that I'd never talk like a grown up and refer to the "good old days" but in today's world you have to reflect on the past and the memories that comfort you as a child.

Long before the advanced animation and computer generated images that dominate the television and box office - books were first and foremost freehand artwork. Even before that, collages have been used in artistic expression and they are finding their way back into the mainstream. The illustrator Ken Kewley has pieced together colorful images that can find themselves on a larger canvas to be immortalized as separate pieces of art.

MAMA is refreshing because as you turn the pages - or at least as I turned the pages - subconscious memories of my childhood were awakened. I can remember "cartoons" of the past that utilized two-dimensional images interacting and moving across a colorful background. I can recall the collage projects of the past and how they caused you to stretch your imagination and express your ideas.

I apologize for the lengthy dissertation about a 32 page book, but I feel that it's important to realize the various emotions that this book will stimulate. It is an excellent book to read to children and those children may go on to read it to you as they get older. The artwork makes it an excellent coffee-table book or conversation piece. The story, in its simplicity and truth, can be one that a new parent will appreciate as well. Either way, MAMA is a book that should be added to your library.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A compelling and distinctive visual treasure, May 18, 2004

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mama (Hardcover)

Deftly written by Kelly Jones, Mama is an engaging picture book about a big sister, and her little brother who says the word "Mama" a lot yet uses it to mean so many different things. The most striking feature of Mama are its vivid, abstract collages by illustrator Ken Kewley that use raw, bold color to shape images from the story. A compelling and distinctive visual treasure to view and share with young folks, Mama is fun and recommended for preschool and kindergarten picture book collections.