What Moms Can't Do [Hardcover]

Douglas Wood (Author), Doug Cushman (Illustrator)

Book Description

There are lots of things that regular people can do, but moms can't.

Moms can't wait to wake kids up in the morning.

When they watch movies, they need protection from the scary parts, and they can't sit very long without someone on their lap.

Moms also can't let go of a hug without a kiss. Or two. Or nine.

No wonder they need someone to look after them, I mean, after all, they're just moms!

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Are there really things that moms can't do? Apparently, actually, quite a few. At least as far as dinosaur moms are concerned. Then again, human kids and moms might find some interspecies similarities in this playful picture book authored and illustrated by the same team that brought us--what else?--What Dads Can't Do (which writer Douglas Wood called "a much easier book to write than Moms"). The list of maternal "failings"--energetically demonstrated by a cute mom-and-son team of Dinosauria suburbis--covers an entire day, from wake-up to tuck-in: Moms are limited in their breakfast choices (they can't have "Yummos with purple marshmallows... Only coffee, or tea, or yogurt, or bran flakes. Yuck."), moms can't push grocery carts fast enough, and "Moms don't know how to keep salamanders in their shirts." To top it off, "Sometimes moms can't hear themselves think (whatever that means)."

But there's one thing that moms can do "better than almost anyone... and that's love you." Sweetly drawn and written, What Moms Can't Do should make for fun snuggled-up reading, because, of course, moms "feel much better with someone on their lap." (Ages 4 to 8) --Paul Hughes

From Publishers Weekly

Following closely on the heels of What Dads Can't Do and starring the same irresistible dinos, What Moms Can't Do by Douglas Wood, illus. by Doug Cushman, once again injects humor into every scenario. The spread "Moms can't wait... to wake up kids in the morning. They can't make the bed without lots of help," for instance, shows only a set of reptilian toes on a pillow, then jumping on the bed to "help" make it.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers; 1St Edition edition (March 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 068983358X
• ISBN-13: 978-0689833588
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 10.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #259,128 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Those Poor Helpless Moms!, April 5, 2001

By 

Roz Levine - See all my reviews

This review is from: What Moms Can't Do (Hardcover)

Douglas Wood really captures the pre-school mind as he takes a long look at all the little things Mom can't do. She can't push a grocery cart fast enough. She never knows how to pick out the right clothes. She eats all the wrong things for breakfast, like coffee and yogurt and bran flakes instead of Yummos with purple marshmallows. She always has trouble saying good-bye and she can't let go of a hug without a kiss or two or five. Poor Mom, she's helpless. It's a good thing she has her little one to look after her..... Told from the child's perspective, What Moms Can't Do is a creative and inventive story all pre-schoolers will love. Mr Wood's simple, gentle and witty text are beautifully complimented by Doug Cushman's colorful and expressive artwork featuring a mother and little dinosaur. Fortunately, that little dinosaur has found one thing that Moms do better than anyone else...they love you!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars I love it as much as my kids do, September 10, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: What Moms Can't Do (Hardcover)

From the moment we started reading this book, my kids and I were laughing about all the things moms can't do. It's funny and nicely illustrated, but best of all it puts a cute spin on how we involve our kids in our daily activities. If you like this one, you'll also like OLIVIA, about an energetic pig who wears herself and her mother out.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a MUST have for your dino-children!, March 12, 2001

By 

"laces" (Hays, KS USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: What Moms Can't Do (Hardcover)

Even though this isn't -about- dinosaurs, the pictures caught my eye and after reading the first 2 pages, I was hooked! I love the way Wood gives the typical preschooler attitude to his main character. It is so true to form. Even high school kids don't think their mothers are capable of doing ANYTHING. Parents can appreciate the humor and how much the dialog sounds just like a comment their own little one has made. There is also a version with a Dad who can't do anything, that would make a great father's day gift!