Mama Says: A Book of Love for Mothers and Sons »

Gentle, but powerful life lessons spoken to a child, delivered with a mother's immutable love. Stunning illustrations will leave readers breathless and deeply moved. Never heavy-handed, Mama Says teaches the universal importance of kindness, sharing, diligence, and faith, along with the importance of courage and a willingness to always try your best. Here is the perfect gift book for any mother--as a baby gift, a holiday gift, a birthday gift, a Mother's Day gift, or just as a way to say "I love you."

Children's Literature

On each of 12 double pages, Walker has written a brief poem beginning, "Mama says " Each is a reminder of good behavior, from being loving, caring, and sharing to being helpful, honest, trusting in God, courageous, and respectful of all life. Each poem has alongside a translation into a different language, using the letterforms of that group, the language of the mother and child that the Dillons there illustrate. There is a sculptural quality to their pictures, created with sensitive shading of smoothly applied paints in subtly outlined shapes creating naturalistic figures. The left-hand page of this large book houses, in a circular frame, some interaction between mother and son along with the poem and translation and a small patterned square representing that group. On the right is a large framed illustration of the recommended behavior. The clothing and objects reflect the particular culture. A final double-page group portrait depicts each boy as a man, effectively offering the reader comparisons along with the text: "I listened to what Mama said/ And now I am a man." Notes at the end offer additional facts along with an "Afterword" that asks, " let us celebrate our diversity and our common need " A beautiful, heart-warming celebration indeed! Reviewer: Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz