WHAT NOT TO GIVE YOUR MOM ON MOTHER'S DAY

An adorable, rosy-cheeked blond boy decked out in overalls has some advice for readers about Mother’s Day gifts.

It’s really more nonadvice, as he freely tells readers what she won’t appreciate. “Do NOT give her a bucket of big, fat worms… / unless she is a bird.” Left-hand pages show the boy inappropriately gifting his mother, while right-hand pages show the appropriate animals enjoying the gifts: “Tweet, tweet! Plump, juicy worms!” A beat-up shoe is a poor gift choice…unless your mom is a dog. Save the dead flies for spider moms, the rotting log for a salamander and the block of salt for the deer. Cross sticks, a mound of termites, a mud puddle and mosquitoes off the shopping list. And as for what the pint-sized tyke does recommend? Well, a hug and a kiss, of course. Brilliant hues and patterns fill Christy’s spreads, which highlight just the right details for younger readers. But strangely, the mother comes off as a bit of a layabout and interacts very little with her child. Her activities include a bubble bath, reading in a comfy chair, coffee on the porch and lying in the hammock—in that order, which is also a bit odd—and culminate in a shared dessert with her little boy.

Certainly cute and good animal practice for little ones, but there’s just something off about this one.