Review by Booklist Review
Ages 3-6. Although the title seems very sex-role specific, this sweet picture book is anything but. It is actually two stories in one, with the separate tales coming together in the center double spread, one side of which appears upside down. When children open What Mommies Do Best, they'll be treated to pictures of a variety of animal moms and their children reading stories, playing ball in the park, making snowmen, and watching the sunset. If they close the book and turn it upside down, they'll see What Daddies Do Best the same things Moms do. As usual, Munsinger's watercolors are bright and funny, and her animal characters are delightful. The book design may be gimmicky, but it will appeal to little ones, who will find the whole a soothing, comforting view of the ways parents can and do love their kids, somehow different yet so much the same. (Reviewed April 1, 1998)0689805772Stephanie Zvirin
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 1An appealing flip book that presents mirrored texts. The first half shows a mother bear, pig, mouse, elephant, and porcupine engaging in everyday activities with her children. Readers learn that Mommies can build a snowman with you, bake a birthday cake, "sew the loose button on your teddy bear," watch the sunset, read a story, or "hold you when you're feeling sad." But best, "Mommies can give you lots and lots of love." Flip the book and read that Daddies can do the same thing. Munsinger's winsome watercolor depictions of the animals are warm and humorous. A perfect cuddly bedtime or storytime read-aloud choice, this title practically begs preschool or early elementary teachers to help children write and illustrate their own versions to present to their parents for holiday or any-day gifts.Susan Hepler, Burgundy Farm Country Day School, Alexandria, VA (c) Copyright 2010. 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 Horn Book Review
Published spring 1998. While these two back-to-back texts are the same, each features different pairs of Munsinger's familiar animals doing things differently: in [cf2]Mommies[cf1], a mother mouse and child watch a sunset from a picnic spot, while in [cf2]Daddies[cf1], a father fox and child view the sunset from a skyscraper observation deck. Art and text capably convey the message that although moms and dads aren't the same, they are each loads of fun to be with. From HORN BOOK Spring 1999, (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
