Customer Reviews

Shy Mama's Halloween

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

 

 

SHY MAMA'S HALLOWEEN is more of a book about belonging than a holiday book. By exploring a Russian immigrant family's first experience of an American holiday, we see how through trick-or-treating with her children, Mama ("who was shy even in the old country") begins to feel that she belongs in this new country. Halloween, with its costumes and darkness, is a great equalizer. Accents and other differences don't matter. Mama's love for her children draws her past her own timidity about America and leads her into the Halloween streets, and into American life. One of the best parts of this book--rare in children's literature--is the section for parents and teachers at the back that gives discussion questions for further exploration: "Moving to a New Home", "Thinking about Anya's Life". "Thinking About Your Life", and "Halloween and Other Traditions" make the book a study guide in itself. Children and parents can learn together about these subjects on an emotional and intellectual level. For teachers, this will be a great help in discussing differences and promoting diversity, especially when it comes to welcoming students who come from other countries or speak languages other than English. SHY MAMA"S HALLOWEEN is a story that will be remembered for a long time because of the beauty of its story, and the gorgeous, rich paintings of a time long gone.

In their first collaboration, Broyles sensitive and insightful text and Morin's charming and detailed illustrations bring to life the tale of one Russian immigrant as she struggles to assimmilate into the melting pot of the U.S. A heartwarming holiday story that is perfect for year-round reading.

A family has come from Russia and this is thier first Halloween. The children are excited, but mother is nervous and does not want the children to go. They agree to let father take them. When father comes home sick the children worry they will not be able to go trick or treating. Mother decides to take them. The children enjoy themselves and feel great for the first time in their new country. The images capture the feeling of the characters in the story. The book also provides a guide for teachers and librarians about the book. This book would be best for kids age 5-8 yrs old.

I've picked up "Shy Mama's Halloween" today and after have read it keep wondering why people write on the subjects they have no clue about. I'm a Russian and the book "screams" of stereotypes and plain "mistakes" to me. First of, all the "Russian" words used incorrectly (the holidays of the 8th of March and the 1st of May celebrated in Russia), it's one of the things that drive Russians crazy. Second, what time period did the author put her characters in? Well, there was a Superman mentioned at the Halloween, so it must be after 1938. No way a Russian family could immigrate from the USSR just before the II World War (much less there is even a remote possibility that the Father would "visit the US" before the move) or after the war until 1980s, when SOME Jewish (NOT Russian) families could immigrate from the USSR on religious basis, usually to Israel. Except for some famous dissidents or spies exchanged between the governments but this family does not seem to be one of them, does it? Then, Mama and her kerchief (oh brother, could it be more stereotypical or what?! All Americans don't wear cowboy hats, do they?) Only old women would wear it in Russia after 1940s, let alone 2(!!) kerchiefs pictured on the poor woman, it's like wearing 2 hats (well, I guess it's the illustrator's fault, though the pictures are very good).

And no, I have not missed on what the author tried to tell with the book, I understand the point. But next time she should write about something she really knows. Otherwise a good writer will be once again one of many trying to use a broken foreign language in their books thinking that this brings "authenticity" when in reality it's the opposite. I guarantee you: I can show this book to 100 Russians and they'll all hate it because of all the things described above. I cannot tell for other nations but every Eastern European I've met in my life cannot stand things like that, I hear about it often because I work with people from all over the world. When it's Hollywood it's one thing (what can you expect from people shooting "historic" movies like "Troy" when you don't know whether to cry or laugh at the ignorance). But when it's a children's book and you read that teachers(!) recommend it then one stops wondering why Americans are regarded as a nation lacking common knowledge of history, geography, etc.

Fun to read--aloud or alone--and fun to look at. Good for discussing afterward. Although this is not the experience of my immigrant family, it was familiar enough to resonate. I also had a mother painfully aware of being different. I could never be as strong as she, but I learned from her courage. In this story, kids will see Mama's "transformation" (physically and literally) as fun. Adults may realize that Mama has done something remarkable--go outside her comfort zone. Try it sometime.

Thoughtful story, beautiful pictures. Loved it. The kids liked it too! :-)