CALL YOUR MOTHER

A picture book that chronicles the importance of a mother’s care over the years.

Gold’s story follows an unnamed mother and her child and their routines of everyday support. Through rhyming lines, “When you’re hungry, when you’re sad, when you don’t know why you’re mad,” readers are reminded to “call your mother” in moments of need. From a baby crying in a crib to a toddler nursing a skinned knee, a child nervous about school, or an older child seeking study help, the narrative spans decades while maintaining the focus on the importance of a mother's constant love and attention. When the child becomes an adult and has her own baby, she asks, “Mom, how did you do it?” Her aging mother replies, “I did just the same as you, I would call my mother too.” The accompanying illustration—the mother in a rocking chair with a photo of her own mother behind her—captures a powerful double-meaning. The story's soft illustrations beautifully complement the prose, tracing the intertwined lives of a mother and her child with gentle aplomb. Light tones of green wash over the pages help paint this truly beautiful and thoughtful portrait of motherhood.

A touching love letter to mothers everywhere and a helpful guide for how best to appreciate them.