Moms

Your Mommy was Just Like You
by Kelly Bennett and illustrated by David Walker

Can you believe that your mommy used to do all of the things that you do, too? A grandmother shows a little girl pictures of her mommy as a baby and a little girl. She tells her granddaughter that her mommy used to play Peek-a-boo, have a special friend named Whiney Baby, have some time outs, pretend to be things like a frog, robot, and a princess. The little girl also used to dress herself in “kooky” costumes, just like the little girl used to do, too. When she started school, the little girl’s mommy was learning to tie her shoes and blow bubbles with chewing gum. What other things did the little girl’s mommy used to do? Did you mommy ever show you pictures of herself doing things that you like to do, too?

Little Bear
by Else Holmelund Minarik and illustrated by Maurice Sendak

In the first story Little Bear decides to go and play outside, but he soon comes back in and tells his mother that he is cold. So his mother makes him a hat, a coat, and some pants, but Little Bear is still cold. What else do you think that Little Bear’s mother will make for him? Will he need anything else to be warm? In the second story it is Little Bear’s birthday, and he cannot find his mother or a birthday cake. He sees a pot of water warming on the fire and decides to make Birthday Soup with potatoes, carrots, peas, and tomatoes. Little Bear’s friends Hen, Duck, and Cat come to celebrate Little Bear’s birthday with him. When the soup is ready, Little Bear’s mother is still not there yet, so Little Bear gives everyone a bowl of Birthday Soup. Will everyone like Little Bear’s Birthday Soup? Will Little Bear’s mother make it home to have some Birthday Soup, too? Will she remember Little Bear’s birthday? In the next story Little Bear decides to go to the moon. He tells his mother that he will fly to the moon, just like a bird. Little Bear’s mother tells him to be back in time for lunch. Little Bear tries really hard to fly by climbing into a tree and jumping. Will Little Bear make it to the moon? Will he be back in time for lunch? In the last story Little Bear tells his mother that he cannot sleep. When she asks him why, he tells her that he is wishing to fly and sit on a cloud, find a Viking boat and sail away with them, go to China and bring back chopsticks, and several other things. Will Little Bear have any of his wishes come true? What does Little Bear really wish for? What does his mother wish for?

What Should I Make?
by Nandini Nayar and illustrated by Proiti Roy

Neeraj’s mother is making chapatis with some dough. She gives some dough to Neeraj to play with. Neeraj starts rolling the dough around, and soon he has made a long rope with a head and a pointed tail. It is a snake, and Neeraj is afraid that the snake will bite him. Neeraj’s mother tells him to roll it up really fast. Then Neeraj starts rolling it into another shape. Soon the dough forms into a mouse, but Neeraj is afraid that the mouse will run all over the house. Neeraj’s mother tells him to roll up the dough really fast again. Then Neeraj starts rolling the dough into a cat. Neeraj is afraid that the cat will drink all of the milk, but the cat keeps growing into another shape. What do you think that the dough cat will turn into? Will Naeeraj be able to roll the dough back up into a ball in time? What will Neeraj finally turn his little ball of dough into? At the end of the story, there are instructions for making some chapatis.

The Wedding Planner’s Daughter
by Coleen Murtagh Paratore

Willa is happy that her Nana talked her mother, Stella Havisham, into moving back to Cape Cod, where she was born. Willa’s mother has been moving them around, and Willa has lived in seven different towns with her mother. Even though Willa wishes for the same thing every year, she hopes that her thirteenth birthday will be the special one, where her wish comes true and Willa will finally get a father. Willa’s mother has a lot of rules about things, such as having great expectations, staying away from the weddings, not counting on Prince Charming, and many others. Willa, on the other hand, would rather play soccer, and she is not happy that her mother does not attend her games and cheer like the other parents. Willa’s father died the day after he and her mother got married, and Willa thinks her father would want her mother to meet someone else and be happy. Willa is also starting to make friends this time, and she is not in a hurry to move again. Willa has hopes that her mother will like Sam Gracemore, their new neighbor and Willa’s new English teacher. What Willa’s mother does not know is that Willa is the thirteenth ingredient to her twelve ingredients for the perfect wedding. Then Willa has the opportunity to invite Sam to the Memorial Day picnic. Will Willa be successful in fixing up her mother and Sam? Will Willa finally get the wish that she has been wishing for so many years? Will Willa’s mother find out about Willa’s thirteenth ingredient to the weddings? Will Willa’s mother appreciate Willa’s help with the weddings?