MOM'S BUSY WORK

Former New Zealand prime minister Ardern explores the relationship between a working mother and her young daughter in this picture book based on conversations with her own child.

A bespectacled little girl reluctantly heads to day care on Monday morning, wishing she could stay home with her mother instead. The narrative unfolds through the child’s perspective as she processes her mom’s busy schedule and the time they spend apart over the course of a full week, from one Monday to the next. While the premise is relatable—reassuring children they remain their parents’ priority despite work obligations—the execution is wanting. The parent-child exchanges, though meaningful to the author, lack the appeal needed to resonate broadly. Moments clearly intended to be endearing or humorous land with a thud, as when the girl flatly states, “We went to the playground and fed the ducks. Then we had a picnic, till a dog stole our lunch. I think Saturday is too short.” What could have been a lively, amusing scene is instead reduced to a perfunctory report devoid of the spark or detail that would make readers laugh or truly understand. Jones’ iPad-rendered illustrations, while colorful, appear static, missing opportunities to add emotional depth or visually expand upon potentially humorous moments. The characters are pale-skinned.

An earnest celebration of a parent-child relationship that fails to connect with its audience.