How to Talk to Moms »

Alec Greven has appeared on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, the Today show, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, The Early Show, Good Morning America, and CNN. Alec is the author of the New York Times bestselling How to Talk to Girls, How to Talk to Moms, How to Talk to Dads, and How to Talk to Santa. Alec lives in Castle Rock, Colorado, with his family.

Sometimes your mom seems like the most wonderful woman in the world. Sometimes you think she is mean and wants to ruin your life.

Really, it is both.

No matter how well you know your mom, chances are she's got a few tricks up her sleeve. Alec Greven may only be ten, but he will set you straight when it comes to figuring out the most important woman in your life.

Tips:

Don't use your shirt as a napkin or a Kleenex.
Don't bring loose wildlife into the house—ever!
Your mom will always love you no matter what.

Children's Literature

This is probably not going to be a book that kids pick up and read over and over. It is a soft lesson that reiterates what most kids know. There are ways to make your mother unhappy (e.g., fight with your brothers and sisters, make messes, hide truths) and there are ways to make your mother happy (e.g., keep clean, be polite, do chores without being asked). There is one section entitled "Excuses, Bribes and the Backfire" that clearly warns of the dangers of making excuses. You will often lose, according to Alec Greven, because mom's are pretty smart. If you say you are sick, then you could end up in bed all day. The illustrations by Kei Acedera are simple black-and-white, cartoon-like drawings. The book's author is only ten, so that may be the attraction. (He actually wrote the book when he was nine.) The pink cover seems like a poor choice for a book that should be aimed at boys as well as girls. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot