OH, THE THINGS MY MOM WILL DO...

It is said that mothers will do anything for their children. In this humorous slip of a tale, readers see just how far moms often go.

Richmond writes at a rollicking pace with rhyming couplets that describe each silly situation this diverse cast of mothers experiences. First is a barefoot, nightgown-clad mom running after the school bus to deliver a lunchbox. Next comes a move worthy of a star running back as another mother scoops up her green-faced child and carries her off to the bathroom right before she really gets sick. From staying up all night to sewing a frog costume to retracing steps at seven places to find a lost bear, the refrain reminds “Oh, the things my mom will do…because she loves me through and through.” While the text moves smoothly from one hilarious but all-too-believable scenario to the next, it is the illustrations that truly impress. Apparently executed with watercolor and ink, the pictures have a childlike quality that ensures this has appeal for young readers and not just their parents. With pinprick eyes and u-shaped mouths, these mothers make the impossible happen…even if that means risking embarrassment, facing a fear or losing sleep.

Eschewing the usual saccharine odes to motherhood, this title should lead to laughter and some recognition for all the crazy things moms do out of love.