Mama and Mommy and Me in the Middle

January 15, 2022
A child misses their Mommy when she goes away for a few days. On Monday, when "the sun is still hiding and the moon is still bright," Mommy, a Black woman, wakes her young daughter with a kiss on the cheek. Like "always," Mama, a White woman with purple hair, gets the plates, the child gets the silverware, and Mommy cooks pancakes. But, unlike most days, Mommy leaves for a work trip to a "faraway place," to return on Sunday. After her departure, many things throw off the child's routine and elicit big feelings. At the sidewalk cafe, there are two cups instead of the usual three. At the store, the child picks up "blueberries for Mommy" before remembering she isn't home. The girl grows more and more despondent, eventually succumbing to tears; but after a snuggle from Mama, things begin to look up when the child gets an idea for how to welcome Mommy home. YA author LaCour's picture-book debut, narrated from the child's first-person perspective, is filled to the brim with love. Juanita's mixed-media illustrations--a combination of spot art and full-bleed spreads--vividly capture the coziness of the family's life and the range of emotions the child experiences. Visual motifs throughout--such as three raccoons crossing the street and three chairs at the cafe--subtly remind readers of Mommy's absence. Mama has tattoos, and Mommy and the girl both have natural hair and skin patches that suggest vitiligo. (This book was reviewed digitally.) A tender tale featuring a loving two-mom family that will resonate with any child who has ever missed a loved one. (Picture book. 3-7)

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April 1, 2022

K-Gr 3-In LaCour's debut picture book, a young girl wakes up on a Monday morning and starts her day like any other, with one difference. After breakfast, one of her mothers leaves on a work trip that will last the whole week. It's a disorienting experience for the girl. She can't find the right place to sit at the table, she forgets she doesn't need to buy blueberries, and most of all, she just plain misses her. On Friday, the girl comes up with a plan to welcome Mommy home, and she needs Mama's help. But when Mommy gets home on Sunday, the young girl is surprised to find out that even in the aftermath, she's still sad about Mommy being gone for the whole week. With time, she's able to accept a hug from her Mama and Mommy, content in her place back in the middle. Juanita's distinct style is unique and adds a touch of whimsy to this story that deals with big feelings. The pages are filled with muted yet warm colors that really explore feelings of love and (temporary) loss. The childlike voice seems authentic to the main character. The narrator has warm brown skin, as does Mommy, while Mama has lighter skin and purple hair. VERDICT This story lends itself well to conversations about feelings, boundaries, and social-emotional learning; the sweet, inclusive story will resonate with children who are missing a loved one.-Sarah West

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Starred review from May 2, 2022
In a book organized into the long days of a parent’s absence, Monday sees its preschool-age, brown-skinned child narrator sharing a pancake breakfast with Mama and Mommy before Mommy leaves on a business trip. After Tuesday brings feelings of missing, Wednesday offers a phone call with Mommy (“My loves! she says. It’s you!”). The family’s longing is shown in an image of two phones close together; Mommy reaches out of one, the child reaches out of the other. Resentment lingers when the parent returns at last, but Mommy is there for it, acknowledging her child’s emotions, naming them, and enfolding them in safety. LaCour gives readers a closely observed portrait of two moms who nurture their child through challenges, while Juanita lavishes attention on detail, lushly capturing facial expressions, figures, and flower petals in an unabashed celebration of familial love. Mama presents as white; Mommy, who is Black, and the child narrator have patches that hint at vitiligo. Ages 3–7.

Starred review from February 1, 2022
Preschool-Grade 2 *Starred Review* The purple sky is sprinkled with stars and the sun is still hiding when Mommy wakes up her little girl for an early breakfast. Mommy cooks pancakes, and they eat until their bellies are full: the girl, her Mommy, and her Mama. When Mommy leaves for a week's work trip, the little girl relates what happens each day: hot cocoa at the caf� with Mama, sharing time at school, visits to the library and the grocery store. As the days go by, she doesn't know where to sit, because she is no longer in the middle of her two mothers. A phone visit with Mommy helps, but her sadness persists. Poignantly she says: "I miss Mommy. I miss her as deep as a scuba diver down in the ocean and as high as an astronaut up in the stars." Snuggling with Mama helps, too. On Sunday, the two gather up a huge bouquet from the garden and present it to Mommy as she arrives home. Printz Award-winning LaCour (We Are Okay, 2016) makes her picture-book debut here, her text accompanied by Coretta Scott King honoree Juanita's expressive artwork, which celebrates radiant brown skin, some chic and magnificent hairstyles, and fashions that fully express the color and individuality in this special family. A joyful and inclusive book that's just what's needed for children whose parents have to be away for a period.

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