Dr. Toughlove has decided that since Mother’s Day is in the month of May, it would be fitting to select a book that focuses on motherhood. Mother’s Day was created by Anna Jarvis in 1908 and became an official United States holiday in 1914. It is celebrated in many countries all over the world, but in the United States we celebrate it on the second Sunday in May.
There are many children’s books that highlight motherhood, but Dr. Toughlove has picked “How to Raise A Mom” by Jean Reagan for this month’s review. Jean Reagan and her illustrator Lee Wildish have written and illustrated the New York Times best seller series “How to….” which includes the books “How to Babysit a Grandpa”, “How to Babysit a Grandma”, “How to Surprise a Dad” and other titles.
“How to Raise a Mom” is whimsical, charming and downright laugh out loud funny. Jean Reagan and Lee Wildish are masterful at using visually appealing fonts to depict different ideas in the story. The book is narrated by the nameless kids who have decided that the best way to raise a Mom is to treat her the way they want to be treated. It is written through the eyes of children.
One of my favorite parts of the story is devoted to HOW TO ENTERTAIN A MOM INSIDE, and shows Mom and the kids having a pretend beach party complete with a blanket, toys, rainbows and umbrella (fortunately no sand). It is all in good fun and demonstrates lessons that kids and adults can adapt and enjoy.
“How to Raise a Mom” is the kind of book that every time you read it you will discover some subtlety that you missed the last time around. Kids love to look at the illustrations and point out what they see, so it is a great read aloud book. It also makes an excellent gift for a new mom.
While “How to Raise a Mom” is recommended for children aged 4-8, Dr. Toughlove believes that adults enjoy reading it as much as kids do.
Copies of “How to Raise a Mom” are available at Queen Anne’s County Library.