It is said that mothers will do anything for their children. In this humorous slip of a tale, readers see just how far moms often go.
Richmond writes at a rollicking pace with rhyming couplets that describe each silly situation this diverse cast of mothers experiences. First is a barefoot, nightgown-clad mom running after the school bus to deliver a lunchbox. Next comes a move worthy of a star running back as another mother scoops up her green-faced child and carries her off to the bathroom right before she really gets sick. From staying up all night to sewing a frog costume to retracing steps at seven places to find a lost bear, the refrain reminds “Oh, the things my mom will do…because she loves me through and through.” While the text moves smoothly from one hilarious but all-too-believable scenario to the next, it is the illustrations that truly impress. Apparently executed with watercolor and ink, the pictures have a childlike quality that ensures this has appeal for young readers and not just their parents. With pinprick eyes and u-shaped mouths, these mothers make the impossible happen…even if that means risking embarrassment, facing a fear or losing sleep.
Eschewing the usual saccharine odes to motherhood, this title should lead to laughter and some recognition for all the crazy things moms do out of love. (Picture book. 4-6)
