Mama A world of mothers and motherhood

Gr 3 Up--A gorgeous, moving look at motherhood from different cultures and eras. Each of Gréban's breathtaking pencil and watercolor illustrations of a mother and child is paired with a free form poem by Delforge imagining the experience and thoughts of that mother. A wonderfully diverse portrayal of motherhood is presented, including a mother who's been left behind by a child's father, a mother who has lost their child, mothers who are frustrated with unwanted advice, and mothers who have mixed feelings about motherhood. An array of cultural dress and styles are also presented in this stunning book. However, it's actually more of an adult book. The poems will mostly go over children's heads; the illustrations are beautiful, but likely more appealing to parents, particularly new moms. VERDICT A first purchase for all libraries serving new parents.--Kristy Pasquariello