From Publishers Weekly
Starred Review. A sure-fire hit for Mother's Day, this elegantly designed book pairs a series of poems with stunning illustrations to celebrate the bond between mothers and sons. Identical in structure, each beginning with Mama says, the poems appear in English as well as another language (among these are Cherokee, Danish, Hebrew and Inuktitut). The verses are prosaic (Mama says/ To be on time/ Mama says/ Be neat/ Mama says/ To walk with pride/ And never drag my feet)—but only until the Caldecott Medal–winning Dillons create a greater context for them; in this case, they picture an African-American mother solemnly looking on as her son, carrying schoolbooks, stoically walks past angry white protestors. The illustrations, two per poem, are well-researched and lavish, showing mothers in traditional dress lovingly engaged with their sons. A visual notation connects each entry with a glossary of languages in the back. Even with the inclusion of very general religious precepts, the Dillons' breathtaking paintings and the quiet dignity of the poems merit a wide audience. All ages.
(Apr.) Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
From School Library Journal
Kindergarten-Grade 4—Twelve different cultures are represented in this visually stunning, slightly oversize offering. For each one, a short poem stating wisdom or advice that a mother might offer a son is presented on the verso, along with a painting in a circular frame. The effect of the frame is to give readers the feeling that they are peeking in at a private moment between parent and child. The recto has a full-page illustration of the son acting on the advice. The poems are simple and direct and address everything from being honest to sharing and appreciating nature. Some have distinctly religious messages: "Mama says/Have faith/Mama says/Believe/Mama says/To trust in God/And let God take the lead." All of the poems are also presented in the language of the culture addressed, including Cherokee, Hindi, and Danish. The afterword details the specific sources used to obtain accurate translations. The artwork is nothing short of brilliant. Elegantly composed pictures not only capture and enhance the meaning of the poem they accompany, but also depict the various cultures with remarkable attention to detail. This is a lovely and important addition for most collections.—
Grace Oliff, Ann Blanche Smith School, Hillsdale, NJ Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
