Customer Reviews

Monster Mama

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

This book Monster Mamma is about a boy named Edward Patrick who has a monster for a mom. Dispite her being a monster she loves her son very much. Whenever he's in trouble his momma always comes to help him.This book is great because it shows kids that no matter who your mamma is she will always love you.

Not sure I understand the parents who are worried about their kids reading about bullies or maybe eating too much cake. What would they say about Maurice Sendak's Wild Things? Maybe he should rename it Tame Things? I think kids know the world is a wild and wooly place-- but if you have a loving mama -- even if she is a monster, as she points out to her son-- it's got to help. Great lines of dialogue, wild illustrations, what's not to love? Probably all this controversy proves it's a great book.

I am a kindergarten teacher and a mother of two. I absolutely love Stephen Gammells illustrations and the story is extremely sweet. Go beyond the "monster" and understand a mother's love for the child. Liz and Stephen work great together to create a story that jumps out at you.

A beautiful story about the all too familiar bully theme. My son and I could really relate to the bond of trust and protection between Patrick and his Mama. It's easy to pick on someone small in size, but the boys were cowards when confronted by Monster Mama. Mama's response gave Patrick the braveness and confidence he needed to stand up to the bullies, and stick up for her in turn. My son's reply at the end of the story was, "yeah,...nobody messes with Mama!" It made me laugh!

A friend gave this book to my son for his 3rd birthday, because I reminded them of the title character. I am a Monster Momma; I bake wonderful cookies, I wore a black cloak, and always encouraged my son to speak and act for himself.
My son is now 15 years old, and in moving we had to cull his books. This book not only made the cut, but we had to stop and re-read the story on the spot. It remains one of his favorites, and being a librarian and book lover myself, he had no end of good books to choose from.

NPR recently had on a piece called "A Lesson On Mothering"; in it, the commentator reflected on the important things she had learned from her sister-in-law, who died young of breast cancer. At the end, she regreted not being able to bake cookies, carpool, etc. But then they both realized,

"No, it's not about the doing stuff at all. It's about the loving stuff, that fierce, protective, ain't-nothin'-like-it-in-the-world, takes-no-prisoners, you-gotta-get-through-me-first kind of loving. The loving stuff isn't about doing the job, we realized that day, it is the job."

We should all of us have Monster Mommas, to guide and protect us. My eyes glow red, and I ROAR when Alexander Ross is threatened...Buy the book, and share it with your children.

my son was four years old the first time we read it together. We both laughted at every page. We can just look at each other and say "Monster Mama" and laugh hysterically.

Reading responses to this book, I laughed. For scary, try Snow White or Jack & the Beanstalk. This book is about confidence! Patrick Edward is a little boy who strives for independence but needs a little reassurance from home now and again. Small children struggle for independence and control over things that are bigger and more powerful than themselves. The bullies in this story are those forces out of Patrick Edward's control, like real-world older siblings, rules, trees that are too hard to climb, parents who won't listen. Does no one remember screaming in rage and frustration about big brothers teasing them or being told they were too small to do something? Patrick Edward has inner strength, his roar. This is the strength he got from his mother through loving attention and the self-esteem building we all try to do. Even so, don't all children see their parents as monsters sometimes? This story is about how a little kid can succeed in a scary world because of the love he gets at home. Go Patrick Edward!

we live in an imperfect world with imperfect people and we cannot shield our children from all that we deem age inappropriate.when you feel your child is ready you can deal with these issues on your own terms by picking up a book, reading it and discussing it honestly with that child.stephen gammells grasp of color is wonderful and helps to offset the seriousness of some of the action.i have not read this with my youngest son;he hasn't begun school yet and the bully issue could cause some consternation on his part.my oldest son could read this book on his own at the age of 2 and a half, and he loved it.to each his own.

Stephen Gammell's illustration bring to life the frustrations of having a "monster" for a mama. The story has a happy ending, but it is truly the illustrations that really highlight the son's hard times. All in all, a thoroughly enjoyable story for both reading to oneself and being read to, especially if you're looking to entice your kids with illustrations!

I love the artwork in this book and the story really brings the pictures alive. A great story with a good moral behind it.