Oh, The Things My Mom Will Do
Author and Illustrator: Marianne Richmond
ISBN: 9781402282157
“Oh, the things my mom
will do... because she loves me through and through!”
A smiling mother stands on the front porch of her family
home with the beloved family dog and waves goodbye to her children as they find
their way off to school. Touching imagery of course, but what was left out of
that description is something to which parents can all relate. Imagine that
same mother but with frazzled hair, a ragged old housecoat and only one slipper
situated on her foot. That is the image displayed on the opening page of Oh, The Things My Mom Will Do.
“Our family’s busy every day. Seems mom is gone a lot. She asks me to
please understand. I pretend, but I do not.”
In Miss Richmond’s newest book,
we read the story of a typical child who cheerfully goes to school without
their lunch kit, misplaces toys, forgets Important school assignments until the
day before its due and, of course, spreads worms out onto the carpet. Through
it all is an amazingly wondrous mother who is always there to chase after the
bus in her jammies, sans slipper, to make sure her child has lunch. A mother
who loses sleep while making a special costume for a school play and makes pet
invertebrates a home inside her home. She also finds teddy before bed, makes it
to the party on time, and at the end of the day, is there to tuck you in and
say goodnight.
A mother’s work is never done and often goes unnoticed. Sometimes, when life feels rushed and
hectic and Junior really does forget his bear in the grocery store shopping cart,
mom has to search through every single cart in the corral before it shows up…these
are the moments that mom’s might chalk up to as an “experience”, but it’ll be a
moment in time that a child will remember forever. Maybe even a story to tell
their grandchildren one day when expressing their love for the older generation
of family members, all because mom managed to save the day…again.
Oh, The Things My Mom
Will Do is a remarkably illustrated, poignantly written hardcover children’s
book with recognizable experiences that will tug at any parent’s heart and
resplendent imagery that will occupy a child’s mind. While this book is meant
for children ages 4 and up, a child of a younger age will also be able to perceive
the imagery and possibly tell the story through pictures. The author is able to
show children that they shouldn't take their mother for granted and understand
that even in her absence her thoughts are always on the well-being of her
child.
“I hope you know how much you’re loved. Yes, through and through and THROUGH. And no matter what the days do
bring, I’ll do anything for you!”
