What Will Mommy Do When I'm at School? - Hardcover

Kindergarten-Grade 1-- A little girl on the eve of her first day of school is worried, not about herself, but about her mother. No more cooking muffins together, no more watching cartoons as they straighten up the living room, no more time for combing each other's hair in the morning . . . how will her mother cope? Her parents' gentle assurances help her begin to look forward to the new adventure, and she decides she will alleviate her mother's loneliness by sharing her school experiences with her. This variation on the theme of school jitters addresses the concerns of some sensitive children, but the text goes on too long, and the girl's final acceptance of the situation is jarringly sudden. The mother's last-minute declaration that she herself will be beginning a brand new job makes the ending a bit too pat. The softly colored illustrations depicting a warm, middle-class black family are attractive, but the perspective seems off, and the poses often appear awkward. Still, this portrayal of one of childhood's major transitions will appeal to many. --Anna DeWind, Milwaukee Public Library
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.

The considerate black girl in this comforting book turns her own fears about exchanging her well-known daily routine for the world of school into concern for her mother. "As long as I've known my mom, I've never left her alone," she muses. She goes on to recount many of the pleasurable experiences they shared when they stayed home together: making muffins in the morning, singing songs, combing each other's hair, reading books and shopping for groceries. Her mom lets the girl know that she shouldn't worry about her. Although she'll miss her daughter, she won't have time to be lonely, as she is starting a new job. The girl promises to teach her mother all that she learns in school, thus giving the story a reassuring resolution: there will still be time for sharing. Although Johnson's realistic watercolor and colored-pencil drawings are not particularly distinctive, her tale offers a fresh perspective on a familiar subject. Ages 3-6.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.