My mom

The mother-child bond is unbreakable. In gentle, lyrical prose, a youngster pays tribute to Mom. The narrator's mother says that the little one's arrival "was like a star drifting down from the sky and into her life." Mom had long dreamed of that day, though she feared it might never happen. That's the day the two of them "started our amazing adventure, together." Since then, life's gotten even better. The pair push their imaginations to the limit, navigating a ship around their garden, riding a rocket into space, and having a picnic on the moon. No worries if a toy breaks: "Mom can fix anything!" Mom boosts her child's self-esteem and helps the youngster feel "safe and strong," capable of meeting the world confidently. The two explore the outdoors, delighting in nature's wonders. Indoors, they enjoy creative endeavors such as drawing. Their whole day is one grand, loving adventure. Nighttime brings hugs and stories--and Mom's reaffirmation that she loved her child even when the youngster "was just a dream." The delicate, childlike, very appealing illustrations, which occasionally incorporate what seem to be an actual youngster's drawings, suit the graceful text. Many caregivers will especially relate to Mom's uncertainty that she'll ever have a child; the ambiguity about the child's arrival will allow a variety of families, including adoptive ones, to see themselves reflected. Mom and her child are light-skinned. Though it's never mentioned, Mom has a limb difference. A lovely tale to snuggle up with.(Picture book. 4-7) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.