Mama
We are shown how a very young boy sees the world, through the eyes of his big sister. This book contains many funny and universal observations.
"Mama" says it all. This is a sweet story about a big sister's ability to always know what her baby brother wants, even though he only knows one word "Mama". The sister tells us her brother talks all the time and although he only repeats one word, this word means many different things. It is up to the big sister to interpret what her brother wants. This story is beautifully written in rhyming couplets. It is easy to read and uses language that even the youngest of children understand. The story is full of humourous details, such as the brother walking around in big sister's shoes and when he's 'trapped' in the stroller. The illustrations are all fun and colourful collages. Older children will delight in finding all the hidden images contained within the pictures. As a mom of a toddler and an infant, I found this book endearing. It truly represents the frustrations of being toddler and of living with one. I can only hope that my older son will be able to interpret his younger brother's needs and wishes as well as the sister in this story. The part where the brother yells "Mama" when he really wanted his Dad was particularly reminiscent of my son when he started to talk. I read this book to both my children. My 2-year-old loved the story, while my 5-month-old was captivated by the colourful collages. My older child was intrigued by the pictures and was even able to identify some of the more detailed parts, such as banana and Corn Flakes in the shopping cart. This is a heartwarming story that will be truly enjoyed by everyone, both young and old.
