When Mommy Was Mad [Hardcover]

Lynne Jonell (Author), Petra Mathers (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 27, 2002 | Age Level: 2 and up

Something was wrong with Mommy. She burned the toast. She banged the pots and pans. And she didn't kiss Daddy good-bye. Robbie wonders if she is mad at him, but Christopher doesn't think so. The boys can't think of anything they've done wrong, and although Robbie tries and tries, he can't make Mommy smile again.

Illustrated by Petra Mathers

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

This season, several series get new additions. Younger brother Robbie comes up with a plan to improve his mother's mood and saves the rest of the unsuspecting family in When Mommy Was Mad by Lynne Jonell, illus. by Petra Mathers. Framed in white, Mathers's colored-pencil vignettes once again use a minimalist approach to convey an array of emotions.
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

reSchool-K-Mom is in a bad mood, and her sons wonder if they are the cause of her prickly behavior. They call her "noisy" as she bangs pots and pans, and notice when she doesn't give Daddy a kiss good-bye as he leaves for work. Her behavior soon impacts the entire family and quickly puts Robbie in a cranky mood, too. In fact, the book seems written to prompt discussion on just this topic. Childlike crayon illustrations featuring stick figures complement the simple text. Endpaper drawings of black clouds and lightning bolts foreshadow the stormy interactions while one little black cloud hanging over the father's head captures his emotions that day. Fans of the other Christopher and Robbie books (Mommy Go Away! [1997]; I Need a Snake [1998]; It's My Birthday, Too! [1999]; and Mom Pie [2001, all Putnam]) will want to purchase Jonell and Mathers's latest offering.-Helen Foster James, University of California at San Dieg.--; It's My Birthday, Too! [1999]; and Mom Pie [2001, all Putnam]) will want to purchase Jonell and Mathers's latest offering.
Helen Foster James, University of California at San Diego
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 2 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Putnam Juvenile (May 27, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0399234330
• ISBN-13: 978-0399234330
• Product Dimensions: 7.3 x 0.4 x 9.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.3 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #942,685 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Is Mommy Mad....., August 16, 2002

By 

Roz Levine - See all my reviews

This review is from: When Mommy Was Mad (Hardcover)

"Something was wrong with Mommy. She burned the toast. She banged the pots and pans. And she forgot to kiss Daddy good-bye..." Little Robbie and his brother Christopher are worried. Why is Mommy mad? Is it something they did wrong? They can't think of anything they've done to put Mommy in such a bad mood. Maybe she's mad at Daddy. Robbie wants a story and a snuggle and a smile, "but Mommy did not look very soft. Mommy looked prickly. All over" This starts to make Robbie feel cranky, too. Eventually, he finds a way to get Mommy's attention, and out of this prickly situation comes a simple and heartwarming solution to a bad mood..... Lynne Jonell's easy to read text really captures the discomfort little ones feel when they don't understand an adult's sudden mood change. Petra Mathers' childlike illustrations, with their marvelous facial expressions, complement the story with engaging stick-figure artwork, in colorful crayon. Perfect for preschoolers, When Mommy Was Mad should open interesting discussions about bad moods, emotions, and the feelings we all have from time to time and how to cope.

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book for young and old!, June 21, 2010

By 

Malia "just 4 keiki" (Honolulu, HI) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: When Mommy Was Mad (Hardcover)

I purchased several of these to teach families about what an effect the mother's mood has on her children. Great book to use in talking about feelings and how to deal with them.

Word of caution... my children started "borking" me after reading this!

5.0 out of 5 stars I couldn't help but laugh, December 13, 2004

By 

Lori "I have a first grader" (Benicia, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: When Mommy Was Mad (Hardcover)

This book is so sweet, yet so funny. My son and I had to read it several times in a row. When my husband got home, my son read the book to him too! Lynne Jonell has become one of our favorite authors for children's books. Learn what it means to be "borked" and you may even add "bork" to your vocabulary; I did!