Leap Back Home to Me
By: Lauren Thompson
Sweet rhymes express the reassuring love of a mother frog to her child going out into the world. As the little frog ventures farther and farther away, the mother frog faithfully awaits his return. The words flow nicely as simplistic watercolor and ink illustrations depict little frog’s journeys away and back.
I’ll Be There
By: Ann Stott
A young boy asks his mother to describe all the ways she cared for him when he was little. The mother lovingly describes all the ways she cared for her son as he proudly relates what he can do himself now. Although their relationship changes since the child is no longer a baby, the mother reassures her son she will always be there for him. This book speaks to any “big” kid who no longer needs parental help to get dressed, eat and bathe but maybe still needs the comforting knowledge that a parent is always there for them.
The “Goodbye Cancer” Garden
By: Janna Matthies
Gardening brings hope and comfort to one family dealing with the effects of a mother’s breast cancer diagnose. The story depicts the realities of dealing with the disease but focuses on positive attitudes and responses to the challenges. The illustrations display the loving emotions amongst the family and friends and the garden scenes provide a hopeful setting to combat the disease.
Migrant Mother: How a Photograph Defined the Great DepressionM
By: Don Nardo
This nonfiction takes a look at Dorothea Lange’s famous photo of Florence Thompson taken during the Great Depression. Nardo describes how the photograph was taken, the circumstances in Thompson’s life and the larger story of the Great Depression. Any child interested in the history surrounding the Great Depression or in photojournalism will enjoy this book.
Your Mommy was Just Like You
By: Kelly Bennett
A perfect read for multi-generations, a grandmother shares with a young girl what it was like to raise her mother and how similar they are. The grandmother flips through a photo album depicting the highs and lows of growing up from fighting over what to wear to learning how to read. The acrylic illustrations depict an active mother, child and grandmother who all love each other very much.
Children’s books are reviewed by Andrea Dochney of The Oakland Public Library.