Momma, Will You? [Hardcover]

Dori Chaconas (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 27, 2004 | Age Level: 3 and up | Grade Level: P and up

Momma, will you feed the hen?
Yes or no or maybe?
Scatter corn around the pen.
You and me and baby.

A young boy is eager to show his baby sister all the wonderful things in his world-and Momma is there to answer each question the day brings. Lilting rhymes in an engaging question-and-answer format join with heart-warming illustrations to capture a growing child's curiosity about the world around him and a mother's tireless love.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

PreS–"Momma, will you milk the cow?/Yes or no or maybe?/We would like some sweet milk now./Milk for me and baby."As a young boy asks questions, he, his baby sister, and their mother spend a day exploring their farm. They feed the hen, ride a dappled horse, take a bath, and share kisses with a puppy. The mother's answers–either yes, no, or maybe–are presented in reassuring refrains that echo her son's queries. Chaconas's language evokes warmth and comfort, resulting in a story that begs to be read to children while they are snuggled in a loved one's lap. Featuring warm colors and realistic-looking characters, the large, expressive illustrations enhance the cozy mood of the text. Full-page paintings of the family are paired with white silhouettes of the featured farm animals set against textured backgrounds. As the day ends, the baby is sleeping in a crib and the mother is gently tucking the boy into bed. The room is lit from behind by the golden glow of a lamp on a nightstand. This affectionate, satisfying book will be asked for again and again.–Rebecca Sheridan, Easttown Library & Information Center, Berwyn, PA
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

PreS. Lilting rhyme presented in questions and answers between a mother and son enables a little boy to explain to his baby sister all the wonderful things to see and do on a farm: feeding the hen, milking the cow, cuddling the puppy. The boy's question appears on the recto page; turn the page for Momma's wise response. "Momma," asks the boy, "will you wash the pig? / Yes or no or maybe? / In the tub! He's not too big. / Wash him with our baby." Momma replies: "Yes, we'll wash the little pig, / but not in baby's tub! / First, we'll wash our baby's cheeks / And give your knees a scrub." The oil paintings, from the familiar team, display sweetly faced characters and are filled with tenderness that carries through the day until bedtime. They aptly illustrate a quiet, gentle story that embraces mother-son-daughter bonding, an appreciation for nature and farm life, and a child's curiosity. Julie Cummins
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 3 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Viking Juvenile (September 27, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0670059072
• ISBN-13: 978-0670059072
• Product Dimensions: 10.6 x 9 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #527,463 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I've always been a storyteller, a singer of nursery rhymes, a twister of truth. The oldest girl in a family of seven kids, I used my survival skills as a storyteller to keep my younger siblings from maiming each other in poking wars. I loved books and I'd read for hours. And I would 'live' in those stories. If the hero suffered, so did I. I once roller skated around our block twenty-eight times in a snow storm, mentally fighting the elements in the Yukon. I froze my butt off, but let me tell you - it was perfect suffering!

As an adult, I read to my twins often. Then because of a nagging need to do something creative, I began to write. I learned to submit my writing to children's magazine publishers, ever conscious of the postage money I was sure I was throwing away. But the challenge was there! The Yukon (and now the publishing world) needed to be tamed - to heck with the suffering or the cost of a stamp!

I sold my first story to Highlights for Children, then many more to that magazine, to Jack and Jill, Scholastic and others. I sold three picture books: A Hat for Lily, and In A Window on Greenwater Street, to Steck/Vaughn, and The Way The Tiger Walked, to Simon & Schuster. I was a published author! But I didn't feel like an author. At least I had the publishers fooled. Not one of them called to tell me it was all a huge mistake.

I left all these glories, and doubts, in the early '70's. Life called me in different directions for the next thirty years. We now had four daughters and schools that introduced us to that annoying word tuition. I went to work part time at various jobs - preschool, nursing home, medical clinic, hospital. I quieted my creative demon in snitches and snatches of small projects until 1997, when two amazing things happened. My daughter, Stacy DeKeyser, started to write, and I was introduced to this new, alien thing called a computer.

I had EMAIL! Stacy lived in Atlanta and cyber channels smoked with our back and forth messages about writing - she asking questions about my long ago experiences, and me, trying to remember. She introduced me to online writers' groups and after a few short months, I was drawn back into the world of writing.

My first picture book, On a Wintry Morning (illustrated by Stephen T. Johnson) appeared in the bookstores in October 2000. New books are reviewed and the reviews can be good or bad. If the reviewer writes: "Would someone please shoot this writer," that's bad. If the book is given a 'starred review,' that's good. On a Wintry Morning received two starred reviews (lucky me!) and also won the Archer/Eckblad Award for the best picture book to be written by a Wisconsin author in 2000. I was astonished. The book has a simple, rhyming text about a daddy and his baby daughter spending a wintry morning together. How appropriate is that, having watched my husband help raise four daughters?

With the help of my daughter and my writing friends, I think I'm becoming a good writer. In addition to a good number of picture books, I've written a series of five easy-to-read Cork and Fuzz books. It's been an interesting and pleasurable journey.

And why do I write? I can't give just one reason. But I think what comes closest to being the most important reason goes something like this. Close your eyes and imagine you hear a child laugh. Then imagine that you are the one who made him laugh. Can you feel that inner glow?

Please visit my website: www.dorichaconas.com

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Rhyming Fun, July 28, 2006

By 

Shania Hence "www.altimatepublishing.com" (Texas) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Momma, Will You? (Hardcover)

A whimsical rhyming conversation between a mother and her child. Set on a farm, it shows the numerous questions asked of a toddler and the answers his seemingly stay-at-home mom provides for him. The illustrations are high quality and realistic. This may feel like the family down the street.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful Art, Lovely Poem - a review of "Momma, Will You?", February 22, 2006

By 

Pam Tee "Busy Mom" - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Momma, Will You? (Hardcover)

Momma, will you wash the pig?
Yes or no or maybe?
In the tub! He's not too big.
Wash him with our baby.

[Fortunately the answer is one this mom thinks is okay-lol]

Yes,
We'll wash the little pig,
But not in baby's tub!
First we'll wash our baby's cheeks
And give your knees a scrub.

This is the basic format of the wonderful text in this book. A small boy asks his mother if she is going to do something: "Yes, or no or maybe?". And momma gives him a warm poetic answer.

Will she milk the cow? Fetch the dog? Catch a wren? Well- yes or no or maybe.

Four Stars. [B+]. Beautiful full-page paintings adorn this book. They are simply luscious and sweet. The rhyme is nice and the vocabulary is simple enough that a first grader should be able to read it with assistance. [My daughter is almost 6 and we took turns reading the child's questions and the mother's answers.] Great read-aloud. Good addition to home shelves.

5.0 out of 5 stars Top favorite, January 24, 2012

By 

J Kim - See all my reviews

This review is from: Momma, Will You? (Hardcover)

I used this book in my Kindermusik class, sung to a tune from Wee Sing's "Old King Cole's Party." (It was the tune used for "Polly Put the Kettle On.") The children loved it and asked for it again and again. Now I buy copies to give as presents to new moms. Since it must be out of print, I have to give used copies, but I think this is a must-have book for every home library! Thank you, Ms. Chancon, for such a wonderful book!