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'Mother's Day'
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[MAY
5, 2004]
"Mother's
Day," by Anne Rockwell, illustrated by Lizzy Rockwell, Harper Collins
Publishers, 32 pages, ages 3-7
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Review by Marlene Perry
It's the week before Mother's
Day and Eveline can't tell her mother what she will be doing at
school that day -- it's a big secret! She heads off for the day with
a gold button in hand, to be used for a very special project.
Eveline's teacher, Mrs. Madoff, asks each student to explain how he
or she will celebrate the upcoming holiday. But what are all the
buttons for?
Anne Rockwell's new book
reveals many different ways that this holiday can be celebrated,
while exposing children to the many variations of a family unit.
Some of the children's stories
tell of plans to surprise their mothers. Kate's dad has been
teaching her to play the violin while her mom is at work. She will
surprise her mother with a special song. Nicholas will surprise his
animal-loving mom with a puppy that he picked out especially for
her.
Other children's activities
have been prearranged with their mom. Sam's whole family will go
shopping to buy a new table and chairs, while Michiko and her father
will take her mother on an all-day trip to the biggest museum in the
city. Charlie's mom is sharing her special day by hosting a baby
shower for her sister, who will soon become a mother herself.
Many different family units are
portrayed in Mother's Day: traditional two-parent families, single
parents, siblings or none, even a grandmother who lives with Sarah
and her dad because the girl's mother has died. They all plan to
celebrate this day in a way that is important to the mother or
"mother figure" of their family.
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this review]
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 Now, for what is that special
button to be used? Eveline's teacher has invited her own mother to
the class, and her mom shows the children how to make a very special
gift for their moms (as many young ones do in their own classes).
Written into the story at this point are instructions on how these
paper flowers with button centers are made by Eveline and her
classmates. Your child may also want to make one of these flowers
for a special someone in their life.
This story has its satisfying
conclusion on Mother's Day, with Eveline serving her mom breakfast
in bed. On the tray, of course, is the beautiful flower that Eveline
proudly presents.
To the reader's delight -- and
quite appropriately -- "Mother's Day" is written and illustrated by
a mother-daughter duo who have collaborated on several other
children's books. Lizzy Rockwell's simple but richly colorful
drawings are well suited for children. The classroom setting, the
teacher's character and the glimpses into the children's family life
are a theme that the author and illustrator have successfully
explored many times in their books. This repetition creates a
predictable familiarity that children enjoy.
If
your child likes this book, they will love to hear "Career Day,"
"Show and Tell Day," "100 School Days," "Valentine's Day" and
"Thanksgiving Day," by this same team. All of these books can be
found in the Youth Services Department of Lincoln Public Library.
Visit us at 725 Pekin St. or call (217) 732-5732.
[Marlene Perry,
Lincoln
Public Library District]
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