Alison Brown, Amazing Mum, HarperCollins Publishers, March 2023, 32 pp., RRP $19.99 (hbk), ISBN 9780008555467
Alison Brown’s illustrations are delightful. Mums of all animals populate this picture book starting with juggly mums and snuggly mums. First mum off the rank, is the stay-at-home DAD and the mum off to work. The second mum has her two kittens right next to her in the bed. They are enjoying a book on CATS. The book truly offers a menagerie of animals. We see mice, cats, cows, bull dogs, but my favourite is the bus driver. I love this mum who happens to be a porcupine. She keeps an eye on her little porcupine, as well as the road. Maybe she’s waiting at a crossing, so she is allowed to do that. Mums always have eyes in the back of their heads.
Amazing Mum acknowledges and celebrates the diversity and talents of all mums. There is a fussy mum, an applauding mum, sharing mums and even repairing mums. Each mum is very busy with their children. Young readers will surely recognise one mum as theirs.
It is a joyous picture book filled with love, fun, family, and care. The humour of the illustrations and catchy rhyming text will engage children.
Of course, in the end the best mum is yours. She gives the biggest HUGS.
Recommended for children aged from 2 to 5.
Reviewed by Susanne Gervay
