DARSHANA KHIANI INTERVIEWS RAJANI LAROCCA, AUTHOR OF MIRROR TO MIRROR (Quill Tree Books;…
Little Bee Books Mother’s Day & Father’s Day Giveaway
CELEBRATE MOTHER’S DAY & FATHER’S DAY
WITH LITTLE BEE BOOKS
CUDDLES FOR MOMMY & THE BEST PART OF DADDY’S DAY
Reviews and Giveaway
BOOK REVIEWS
Cuddles for Mommy
Written by Ruby Brown
Illustrated by Tina Macnaughton
(Little Bee Books; $16.99, Ages 4-8)
Here’s a read aloud picture book moms won’t tire of sharing with youngsters on Mother’s Day or any day. What kind of cuddle do you like best? There are all kinds of cuddles and in the pages of this sweet picture book, Little Owl is wondering which one’s her favorite and decides to try them all. Mommy Owl is on the joyful receiving end of all the hugs.
The good morning – a wake up time cuddle.
The good-bye – a leaving for school cuddle.
The “I’m sorry” – a way to apologize for doing something wrong cuddle.
The “I’m scared” – when mommy’s reassuring hug helps quell fears and makes nightmares go away.
There are also the thank you cuddle, happy cuddle, the proud cuddle, the “I’m sick” cuddle, and the good night cuddle. But the best kind of cuddle for any time or any place is the Mommy Cuddle “Just because I love you!” And that’s sure hard to argue with. Brown has picked cuddles for her book’s subject and it works wonderfully. She’s created a feel good picture book that’s great for story time or bedtime. And since it’s just the right length, Cuddles for Mommy will leave lots of time for some quality cuddling at the end. I hadn’t ever considered how many cuddles and hugs we give to one another, but I’m glad Brown did. Macnaughton’s chosen a variety of background colors to highlight her illustrations that also add a cheery mood to this story. Plus, with her depictions of Little Owl and Mommy Owl, she’s found a way to make the cuddling of the two owls look believable without turning their bodies into cartoon characters. An endearing story for a special holiday, Cuddles for Mommy would make a great gift for Mother’s Day.
The Best Part of Daddy’s Day
Written and illustrated by Claire Alexander
(Little Bee Books; $16.99, Ages 4-8)
The strong message of love in both Cuddles for Mommy and The Best Part of Daddy’s Day is an important one for young readers. I may have guessed the ending in Alexander’s new picture book, The Best Part of Daddy’s Day, but that didn’t stop me from enjoying every page and remembering my son feeling the same way at the same age as Bertie, the narrator. Bertie wishes he could spend the day with his dad, but dad’s a builder and must make tracks to work while Bertie goes to school. Throughout the course of Bertie’s school day, he finds himself thinking about his dad and trying to recreate the experience of being a builder. Sometimes he has success and other times he doesn’t – like when a classmate gets footprints on Bertie’s artwork of a crane like the one his dad operates. The highlight of Bertie’s school day is climbing to the top of the jungle gym where he is certain he can see his dad up in the crane constructing a skyscraper. When school ends it turns out Bertie’s daddy has had quite similar experiences at his job, even spotting his son on the jungle gym! But during a bedtime story, Bertie’s dad reveals that the best part of his day isn’t actually when he’s at work. No, it’s when he comes home and gets to snuggle up close to his son. Bertie agrees that the feeling is mutual. Alexander’s written a delightful story for budding builders and those who dream of following in a parent’s footsteps. The watercolor illustrations are tender yet playful, just perfect for the subject matter. Make reading The Best Part of Daddy’s Day the best part of your day and get a copy today.
- Reviewed by Ronna Mandel
Share this:
Related Posts
This Post Has 52 Comments
Comments are closed.
My favorite of all time Mother’s Day was when my husband was working out of town and my young sons had to rely on their own devices. They made homemade cards (the best), cut wildflowers for a bouquet, and baked an interesting looking but full of love cake. They made the day so special that thinking about it still kind of brings tears to me eyes.
Great memory!! All made with such love.
I remember buying my mom concert tickets to her favorite girl singer a few years ago. She was so surprised!
I would love getting a great surprise like that from my children. Must have made you and your mom both feel terrific.
I fondly remember my toddler presenting me with a plastic flower pot that had a hand drawing and scribble in an attempt to sign her name.
Those are the priceless gifts we always remember!
My daughters made me a snack platter,it was the sweetest thing. They put together some weird stuff and I was freaked out but thwy were so sweet so couldn’t hurt their feelings. They always do the sweetest things for me.
It is the thought that counts and it’s wonderful to be thought of with such love.
All my mothers days are great memories it is hard to pick one. My Kids and my husband always seem to make mothers day so special every year
You’re a lucky wife and mom, Kelley!
receiving cards every year from my girls and now my grandkids.
Hardly get cards anymore, so getting them must certainly feel terrific.
A few years ago my mom, my daughter and I all spent mother’s day together at a park – just the three of us. It was the best mother’s day I’ve ever had! My mom and I spent the afternoon playing with my daughter on the playground and we couldn’t have been happier!
That’s really what the holiday is all about.
Hand made cards from the kids, made at school or home if they were littler, are my favorite Mother’s Day gift! That and the year my husband took all the kids to a dollar store because he was short on money and let them each pick out a gift . I have a teddy bear heart ceramic picture frame, a ceramic pair of birds, and a ceramic heart trinket box with ceramic roses on the top. They are priceless treasures because they picked them out by themselves with love.
What a super idea your husband had. Those dollar stores have some really fun stuff, and now they’ve become priceless treasures like you said.
My favorite Mothers Day was when my now-teens were just toddlers. I came downstairs to find my hubby & toddlers doing all the laundry in the house!
That’s a great gift and a great surprise! Thanks for stopping by the blog, Annmarie.
My daughter made me a hand print picture craft for Mother’s Day last year, I treasure it!
Those hand print gifts are some of my favorites, too. And the ones they do in plaster of Paris. I’ve kept them all.
when my son gave me a homemade mother’s day card
I’m all for homemade anything! Have a great Mother’s Day.
I remember making my mom breakfast in bed. My boys do the same for me!
Breakfast in bed is one I’m particularly fond of and I hope it’s on the agenda for this Mother’s Day, too. Good luck Ashley.
My fave Mother’s Day moment is my first Mother’s Day as a mom.
It’s cool you remember that! Both my kids were born in April so I think my Mother’s Days back then were a bit of a daze.
I remember the first time I made my mom breakfast in bed and she was so surprised and happy.
It’s what I’m hoping for next weekend.
I loved when the kids were little and they made cute things at school for Mother’s Day
Same here!
My parents have both passed several years ago. My niece is a mom to 2 toddlers whom I love to visit and play with 🙂 The youngest just turned 3 so his verbal skills are just starting to be better understood; therefore this will be the first year that they can both verbalize Happy Mother’s Day and Happy Father’s Day so that will be a nice memory to have 🙂
Make sure to get that on video.
I think of more recent Mothers Days taking my MIL to brunch. She is 93 & she thinks she won’t ‘eat her money’s worth’ but she enjoys prime rib, waffles and desserts! It’s so cute & precious.
She’s sure lucky to have a caring DIL like you!
One year for Mother’s Day, my dad and I tried making mom a french toast muffin… Instead of adding sugar, we added salt accidentally. The expression on my mom’s face when she bit into that muffin was hilarious because she tried to hide her disgust by smiling through that bite. Hahah, we never made that mistake again.
I did that once by adding baking soda instead of cornstarch to a pot pie recipe. Whoa, that was horrid. But unlike your mom, I couldn’t do a poker face. I laugh just thinking about her acting ability and the humor in that episode.
I remember taking my Mom and Dad out to a very nice Italian restaurant(now closed, sadly) for Mother’s Day a few years ago. It was one of the best meals I have ever had in a restaurant.
It’s wonderful you can look back on that with such fond memories, Jeffrey.
We treat Mom to dinner out every Mother’s Day. 🙂
What a treat!
I love every Mother’s Day that my children hand make me cards.
I can never get enough hand made anything!
I remember always buying my mommy flowers .. Now my kids doing the same,the little one is going to the garden and showing me that whole rose bush is yours mommy 🙂 !
Who needs a bouquet when you’ve got the whole bush?!!
When Mumb came home from night shift an surprised here with breakfast and flowers and a foot massage she loved it
Hard not to love that.
I remember waking up early and making my mom a good Mother’s day breakfast for years and year. She really loved it!
Yep, that’s what I’m hoping to wake up to this weekend.
My best Mother’s Day was the year my son drove in from college and surprised me at church!
That is so great! What a thoughtful son you have, Janet.
I remember hanging out with my dad AND my mom when they were still together- it was very fun!
thanks!
Appreciate you stopping by the blog for this great giveaway!