Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
While the title implies a girl copying her favorite and nearest role model, this story is in fact a tribute to Mama's singular awesomeness, particularly when it comes to addressing the narrator's needs. "She sets out cups and saucers for my teddy bears and me," writes Newman, "then shows us all the proper way to pour a pot of tea./ Nobody has tea parties just like Mama." Gorton's pen and marker illustrations, an intriguing mixture of girly and bold, are cropped in a way that conveys the effusiveness of the narrator's feelings: her admiration and gratitude can't be contained by the margins. Ages 3-8. (Apr.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 2-A heartwarming book that reassures mothers that sometimes their children really do appreciate them. Each spread shows a woman and her daughter engaging in their daily activities. From hair combing to breakfast making to gardening and snuggling, nobody does it "just like Mama." The rhyming text is full of figurative language and charming details and is fluid when read aloud. The mother and daughter are definitely girly girls with a penchant for pink, flowers, and tea parties. The illustrations, with pastel-colored backgrounds, gardens, and lots of detail, highlight the cozy parent-child relationship. This title is definitely a great gift book, and it will circulate in public libraries as well. Mothers who read it will feel celebrated for all the things they do.-Susan E. Murray, Glendale Public Library, AZ (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
In this rhyming tribute, a girl shares the activities that no one can do "just like Mama": "Nobody combs my hair just like Mama...Nobody snuggles just like Mama." The hearts-and-flowery pen-and-marker illustrations display the mother-daughter activities from a variety of interesting perspectives. (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
A little girl lists the many things that no one can do "just like Mama." From waking her up through preparing breakfast, gardening, playing dress-up and so on, Mama demonstrates her expertise all day long. In addition to traditionally nurturing things like preparing meals and snuggling, this Mama plays ball and belches (after the two of them slurp up a "mountain of spaghetti"). Gorton's illustrations employ a limited palette and strong, confident lines that skew perspective playfully. They take advantage of the opportunities offered by the text, depicting the little girl's short blond hair in multiple tiny, spiky braids and a spattering of tomato sauce on her freckled face at suppertime. Newman's verse occasionally sacrifices syntax to scansion, but it stays on the bearable side of saccharine, making this an acceptable purchase this season. (Picture book. 3-5)]] Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
