MOMMY GOES TO THE OFFICE

This debut children’s book takes a look at a mother’s workday.

Each morning, many kids go off to school while their parents go to work, and many of them may wonder what their moms and dads do all day. This book answers that question in a thorough, loving way. At the outset, Mommy has breakfast with her family, and after dressing and getting ready, she heads to the office as her kids go to school. Like many working parents, Mommy has a “big desk” as well as writing utensils and “lots of pictures” of the kids. The narration, from the daughter’s point of view, notes that Mommy misses her children as she has meetings, writes emails, talks on the telephone, and eats lunch. Finally, she wraps things up and heads home to her waiting family. Everyone is happy to see one another, and they eat dinner, play games, read bedtime stories, and plan to do it all again the next day. Mesara-Dogan’s debut is a lovely way to introduce children to the idea of a household where both parents work. It’s especially ideal for parents who are returning to the workforce and need to explain to their kids what their days will be like. Change can be tumultuous for children, but this book is sure to assuage some of their fears; it makes clear, for example, that Mommy is not leaving home for good and that there will still be plenty of time to spend together after work. The author’s prose is bright yet easy to read so that younger readers won’t lose interest. That’s not to say, however, that its subject matter isn’t advanced enough to engage older kids, as well. This book may also inspire young readers to talk about their own futures in the workplace, as the story’s narrator does. The sketched, rustic quality of the illustrations makes them a beautiful counterpoint to the realistic storyline. Although the book focuses on “Mommy,” specifically, it can effectively be used to explain the experiences of working moms and dads alike.

A must-have introduction to the workplace for young children.