Big, fun crowd this week, with a wide range of ages.  In honor of Mother’s Day, we read books about Moms.

Baby Brains and Robomom by Simon James (Amazon.com link)

Mr. and Mrs. Brains hoped to have a smart baby, but they never expected one as smart as Baby Brains, who not only talks, but builds amazing inventions.  One day, hoping to save his parents from their daily chores, he invents a robot who can iron, cook, and wash the car.  The problem is that the new Robomom also wants to do the things Baby Brains prefers his parents to do: changing his diaper, putting him to bed.  The other problem is that Robomom is working so hard that she eventually explodes.  The kids loved the explosion part.  Delightfully far-fetched and silly, this book demonstrates that there are some things technology still can’t do.

Blueberries for Sal by Robert McCloskey (Amazon.com link)

This was one of my mother-in-law’s favorite books as a child, and I think of her whenever I read it.  It made for a nice old-fashioned contrast to Baby Brains and Robomom.  Sal and her mother are picking blueberries on the same hill as a mother bear and her cub.  When the two young ones swap places, both their moms are in for a big surprise.  This one was a bit long for the younger kids, but the older ones enjoyed it, and it was snatched up at the end.  A gentle and timeless story.

Llama Llama, Red Pajama by Anna Dewdney (Amazon.com link)

Given how popular this book and its sequels are, I was surprised that a number of the kids had never read it.  A rhyming story about a llama lying alone in bed and calling for his mother, then panicking when she doesn’t come right away.  The illustrations are big and adorable, and the story is something both kids and parents can relate to.  I love the mother’s frustrated, but soothing reminder at the end, “Mama Llama’s always near, even when she’s not right here.”  There was a bit of llama drama at storytime over who was going to get to check out this book, and I’m ashamed to say that my daughter was the instigator (my husband couldn’t get off work in time tonight to watch our kids, so she tagged along with me).  Anyway, the book is clearly a hit.

Love You When You Whine by Emily Jenkins; illustrated by Sergio Ruzzier (Amazon.com link)

This book got lots of laughs, especially from the moms.  It’s a list of things a little kitten does that upsets his mom, and how his mom still loves him always: “Love you when you whine.  Love you when you interrupt…Love you when you scream ‘Lollipop Lollipop Lollipop’ for forty-five minutes on line at the bank.”  I usually add a disclaimer not to try these things at home, especially hiding mom’s keys and painting the dog.  It was a hit though, and another mild dispute arose over who was going to get to take it home (thankfully not involving my daughter this time).

SONGS:

Five Days Old

Great Laurie Berkner song that the kids enjoyed.  I played it on the ukulele, which is tricky with the jumping up and down.  Click here for Laurie Berkner’s video.

Peanut, Peanut Butter

A song I learned at Girl Scout camp a thousand years ago.  The version I sing goes like this (click on the triangle to hear the first verse):

First you take the peanuts and you pick ’em, you pick ’em,
You pick ’em, pick ’em, pick ’em! (Mime picking peanuts)
Then you smash ’em, you smash ’em, you smash ’em, smash ’em, smash ’em! (clap hands together each time you “smash”)
Then you spread ’em, you spread ’em, you spread ’em, spread ’em, spread ’em! (mime spreading peanut butter)
Singing “Peanut, peanut butter…jelly!
Peanut, peanut butter…jelly!”

Then you take the berries and you pick ’em… (repeat the first verse)

Then you take the sandwich and you bite it, you bite it, you bite it,
Bite it, bite it!
Then you chew it, you chew it, you chew it, chew it, chew it!
Then you swallow it, you swallow it, you swallow it, swallow it, swallow it.
Singing, “Peanut, peanut butter…jelly!
Peanut, peanut butter…jelly!” (I usually sing this part in a slightly garbled voice, as if I have peanut butter on the roof of my mouth. Then we all mime drinking a glass of milk).

No More Monkeys

I gave out instruments for this one, and played it on the ukulele.  It’s the wonderfully catchy Asheba version of Five Little Monkeys Jumping On the Bed from Putumayo’s Animal Playground album.

CRAFT: All About My Mother 

I stole this idea from my daughter’s preschool last year, and adapted it for Father’s Day as well.  I love it because the kids’ answers are so adorable.  (Last year my daughter told her teacher that I was 4-years old.  This year, of course, she said I was 5).  Here’s the .doc I created: My Mommy is  Most of the kids needed help filling out the form, so I interviewed each of them and wrote in their answers, but they enjoyed drawing pictures of their moms.

OTHER BOOKS:

My Mom by Anthony Browne (Amazon.com link)

Lovely tribute to a Mom who is a fantastic cook, a brilliant juggler (of daily tasks), a magic gardener, and much more.  The illustrations are fun and full of humor.   It would also be a good example to use in a lesson on similes, which are used throughout the text (she “sings like an angel,” and “roars like a lion,” etc.)

Mom Pie by Lynne Jonell; illustrated by Petra Mathers (Amazon.com link)

When two brothers are frustrated that their mom is too busy preparing for company to pay attention to them, they decide to make a “Mom Pie,” made of all the things that remind them of her.  Sweet story with childlike stick-figure drawings.  This book, along with Mommy, Go Away by the same author and illustrator, do a nice job of capturing the wistfulness and frustration that kids often feel, in the context of a warm and playful story.

Please Baby, Please by Spike Lee and Tonya Lewis Lee; illustrated by Kadir Nelson (Amazon.com link)

One of the few celebrity picture books I actually like.  A simple, repetitive rhyme that follows an adorable toddler throughout her day with her mom: “Go back to bed, baby, please, baby please / Not on your head, baby, baby, baby, please!”  The illustrations by Kadir Nelson are full of life and mischief, and it has a sweet ending, with the little girl begging for a kiss from her tired Mama.   This also makes a good book for beginning readers. because of the rhymes and repeated words and phrases.

What! Cried Granny: an Almost Bedtime Story by Kate Lum; illustrated by Adrian Reynolds (Amazon.com link)

Because Mother’s Day is for grandmothers too.  This is one of my storytime standbys.  A little boy named Patrick is ready to go to bed at his Grandma’s house.  “But Granny!” he says, “I don’t have a bed here!” “What?!” cried Granny.  She rushes out to chop down some trees, and quickly builds him a bed.  But he still needs a blanket, a pillow, and a teddy bear.  This is a terrific read-aloud.  The kids love joining in whenever the Granny says, “WHAAAATTT?!” and guessing what Patrick is missing this time.

The Grandma Cure by Pamela Mayer; illustrated by John Nez (Amazon.com link)

I love this story about two grandmas who come to take care of a little girl named Sophie when  she stays home sick from school.   But each grandma has a different idea of how to do things: one thinks Sophie needs hot tea, the other wants to give her orange juice.  Sophie has to step in and explain how to sort out their differences the way her Kindergarten teacher has taught her.  Funny story that kids and grown-ups both enjoy.

Happy Mother’s Day!  If you have any favorite books about moms or grandmas, please share them in the comments.