Review by Booklist Review
When a child is sick or feeling sad, nothing helps more than Mommy Medicine, as described here by a young brown-skinned girl. Noisy kisses, hugs, a back rub; some soup or tea; playing a board or card game the activities are varied but all involve togetherness. Some things are quiet, like whispering prayers; some are louder, like dancing and singing. When the child starts feeling energetic, the pair venture on an imaginary journey to faraway lands. The text is simple but descriptive, expertly making the shared love of the mother and child understandable as both universal and specific. Because no other relatives are discussed, the book could be applicable to all kinds of families, including single parents. Bright, naturalistic illustrations add entertaining texture to the story and show the mother and daughter as regular people rather than idealized figures. This warm, loving account could be a how-to guide for parents, demonstrating that the things the girl likes best involve little to no cost. Cozy and comforting, this is an effective antidote for childhood illness or anxiety.--Lucinda Whitehurst Copyright 2010 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
The narrator, a brown-skinned girl, defines "Mommy Medicine" as a special brand of TLC-a combination of pampering and playfulness that her mother offers "whenever I am sick or just feel kind of gloomy or sad." Mommy's indomitable energy and toolkit of healing techniques are something to behold: she can plant "a kiss so loud it reminds me of a French horn at Mardi Gras," deliver a rousing medley, give her all in a session of pretend play, or just sit quietly with her daughter "watching my ceiling's glow-in-the-dark stars flicker, making our own sky." Heartfelt prose by adult author Danticat can seem more like an adult's recollection than a child's impression ("Sometimes it's a whispered prayer, just before nodding off at nap time"), but the vignettes are full of glad familial love. Wright, an illustrator and cartoonist making her picture book debut, supplies largely realistic scenes in a poignant home-video style. Together, they leave no doubt about how good it feels to be the total center of attention-even when there's "actual" yucky medicine involved. Ages 3-6. (Feb.) c Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 2-Danticat (Mama's Nightingale) pays tribute to the ways in which mothers (or other caregivers, as she notes in the back matter) take care of their children when they are sick or down in the dumps. A young black girl shares a descriptive list of the things her mom does to help her feel better: playing games, telling stories, and making food, among many other acts of comfort and healing. She describes each type of "Mommy Medicine" using vivid language, similes, and metaphors. "Or soup-pea, chicken, or squash. I love squash! It's like sunshine in a bowl." The illustrations by Wright, a political cartoonist, burst with the love between the familial pair. She draws with detail and an array of glowing colors that fill each page. The focus is on the mother and daughter, who appear in each vignette like stills from an animation. VERDICT A warm and fuzzy offering for sick days on the couch or everyday reading. A recommended purchase.-Clara Hendricks, Cambridge Public Library, MA © Copyright 2019. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
A young girl counts the many kinds of Mommy Medicine that make her feel better when she's down.Whether she's sick or simply sad, this brown-skinned girl with large, puffy hair can count on her mom to treat her to doses of Mommy Medicine. Mommy Medicine can feel like kisses, hugs, and massages, or it can taste like Popsicles, tea, or fruit. It can be bubbles, games, or "a whispered prayer, just before nodding off at nap time." Songs, dances, playing make-believe, watching a movie, or drawing togethereven taking "actual medicine, which might taste yummy or YUCKY"are also possible remedies. The mother closely resembles the girl, and they cuddle, smile, and laugh together on pages full of digital illustrations that give the text just enough color to sustain the story's momentum. Standout moments include the pair seated on the floor and staring at each other like card sharks over closely held hands of Uno cards, the child swaddled in a blanket, and another of the two of them laughing heartily while snuggling on the couch in front of a movie. Sensory details mark the text with moments of feel-good familiarity, but ultimately the ongoing descriptions add up to little in the way of story.A sweet celebration of the special touch that only a mother can give, though perhaps not memorable enough to become a favorite. (author's note) (Picture book. 2-6) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
