March 31, 2014
The mothers in this sunny primer all work outside the home (one is a construction worker, another a medical professional, and two more in an office). Skrypuch’s declarative phrases are written in the voices of the mothers’ children, as they confidently express their independence: “When Mama goes to work,/ I’m busy all day long./ I work with tools/ and get things done.” First-time illustrator Phillips’s artwork features an ethnically diverse cast of cartoon families and understated suburban surroundings that, despite a somewhat generic quality, should draw in the targeted preschool-age audience. Ages 3–up. Author’s agency: the Cooke Agency.
July 1, 2014
The book's title is used as a refrain to show four mothers working in a variety of professional settings while also taking care of their families. Their kids are depicted in school together, mirroring their mothers' experiences and dreaming about their own future careers. Cheerful illustrations expand on the simple story and depict unspoken relationships among the multicultural cast of characters.
(Copyright 2014 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)