MY MOTHER IS SO SMART

This little boy’s mother is so smart, “[s]he always knew when to change my diaper.” She also dresses him in a snowsuit in the winter, makes “the best cookies” and, “when it’s cold out...gives us breakfast that makes us warm.” In most respects, this Supermom is Everymom, and her son’s awed appreciation is winning in its ingenuousness. But, according to the jacket bio, dePaola’s mother had some specific smarts. “She knows how to drive my grandfather’s old delivery truck.” And when little Tomie’s teacher tells him he has to wait outside after school, he has just the right riposte. The artist’s characteristic borders give the book a cozy intimacy that allows this petite memoir to connect with its modern audience. For a holiday too often characterized by cold-hearted calculation, this sweetly honest offering hits just the right note. (Picture book. 3-5)