Many children’s picture books focus on young characters and their adventures. The characters’ parents, if they appear at all, are usually background figures. On occasion, though, kids’ book authors will make them the subject of their work. These three books, all reviewed by Kirkus Indie, specifically focus on mothers—and they may offer young readers new perspectives on the women in their lives:
Donald Jacobsen’s 2019 picture book Mighty Mommies and Their Amazing Jobs!, featuring illustrations by Graham Evans, puts the spotlight on various mothers’ professions, primarily in STEM-related fields. For example: “Paisley’s mommy is a programmer. She works on a computer. If you need help writing code, she’d make an awesome tutor!” Kirkus’ review calls it “A nice mix of careers that may be inspiring to young readers.”
Mommy’s Big Red Monster Truck by Alison Paul Klakowicz, published in 2018, tells a tale of a young boy and his mother as they take a road trip in the mom’s massive, noisy titular vehicle. Along the way, the main characters encounter a diverse range of other mothers who provide their kids with “hugs, kisses, bedtime stories, and more.” It’s “lively, vigorous, and well suited to kids who adore cool moms and their vehicles,” according to Kirkus’ reviewer.
Jessica Williams’ Mama’s Cloud (2018), illustrated by Mateya Ark, features a young girl who notes that “sometimes Mama can’t smile” when “a dark cloud…settles over her.” The child imagines herself as a wizard and a superhero, among others who might make the cloud disappear. But she finally accepts that she’s “only me” and gives her mom a hug. Kirkus notes that the “poetic, child-friendly text tackles hard-to-discuss ideas about mental health and depression, acknowledging that it’s not the child’s job to fix it and embracing the hope that one can help just by being oneself.”
David Rapp is the senior Indie editor.
