Browne crafts a heart-warming testimony to mothers, as told from a child’s perspective. With simple verse, he reveals the absolute wonder, bordering on hero-worship, with which children regard their mothers. “She’s a great painter” (putting on lipstick) and “the STRONGEST woman in the world” (carrying the groceries). She embodies everything from the beauty of a butterfly to the coziness of a favorite stuffed chair. The child lovingly believes that while his mom is capable of doing anything—from movie-stardom to lunar visits—she is and always will remain his mom first and foremost. Browne’s illustrations deliberately portray an ordinary-looking woman made extraordinary through the beloved gaze of her child. Through her many transformations, he always depicts her wearing some version of her comfy flowered robe, whether a ballerina’s tutu, a tie on the executive mom or, typically Browne, the fabric covering that cozy chair (the feet of which are covered in her fuzzy pink slippers). For the reader, Brown artfully includes a heart theme in each illustration that is sometimes straightforward and at other times more stealthily hidden. Although the theme is familiar, the sentiment is so pure that this tale will be a beloved addition to a family’s repertoire of stories to treasure. (Picture book. 4-8)
