The Gift of a Reading Mother
By Julie Douglas
You may have tangible wealth untold;
Caskets of jewels and coffers of gold.
Richer than I you can never be --
I had a Mother who read to me.
Strickland Gillilan from “The Reading Mother”
In a recent READ from the START session, a pregnant young woman shared that she had read one of her new books to her unborn child and the baby kicked. The mom-to-be took this as a sure sign that the baby liked the story. And she is probably right! Research shows that a child in the womb will respond to the sound of its mother's voice. What a lucky child; he has a mother who already recognizes the gift of reading to a child.
As a former teacher, I always have to smile when I see the bumper sticker that proclaims, "If you can read this, thank a teacher." As much as my "inner teacher" would like to take credit, I think the there should also be a bumper sticker that says, "If you can read this, thank your mom" (or dad, or other loving adult.) I know that I was blessed to have a mom who read to me and my siblings. She read to us, encouraged us to use the library, shared stories from the newspaper, and modeled a love of reading for us. I remember when I was a child she once told me that one of her favorite places on earth was the nightstand next to her bed. Confused, I looked to see what could possibly be so special about a nightstand. Of course, there sat a stack of books waiting to be read!
In honor of all reading and story-telling moms everywhere, here is a list of children's books that celebrate the special relationships between mothers and children. Happy Mother’s Day!
(For on-line ordering, the link below is a portal to the Missouri Humanities cubbyhole at an Amazon.com charity site named "Giveness." If you click the Amazon button and shop on line, the commissions generated by your shopping are donated to MHC.) http://www.giveness.com/mohumanities
A Ride on Mother's Back: A Day of Baby Carrying around the World by Emery Bernhard (Gulliver, 1996)
Children from a variety of cultures explore and learn while perched on a parent's shoulder or hip. Readers discover interesting facts, but also will recognize the special bond between parents, grandparents, and children that is a part of all cultures.
I Love My Hair by Natasha Anastasia Tarpley
Keyana's mother gently helps her accept and celebrate herself.
My Mama Had a Dancing Heart by Libba Moore Gray (Live Oak Media, 2001)
Rich illustrations and lyrical text reveal the relationship of a young girl and her whimsical, dancing mother.
On Mother's Lap (board book) by Ann Herbert Scott (Clarion Books, 2007)
A young Eskimo boy discovers that his mother has plenty of love to share with him and the new baby.
Earth Mother by Ellen Jackson (Walker Books for Young Readers 2005)
Earth Mother considers the complaints of her "children" in this amusing and reassuring tale.
My Mother's Pearls by Catherine Myler Fruisen (Starbright Books, 2005)
A little girl learns about her ancestors as her mother tells stories about a string of pearls that has been handed down from generation to generation.
My Mother's Sari by Sandhya Rao (North-South Books, 2006)
Readers will discover how a long piece of fabric becomes a garment, as well as a prop for a child’s imagination.
Mothers are Like That by Carol Carrick (Clarion, 2007)
Mothers of all kinds, both two-legged or four-legged, care for their children in this quiet, cozy bedtime book.
A Chair for my Mother by Vera B. Williams (Harper Trophy, 1984)
A young girl and her mother and grandmother work together to recover from a fire.
What Do Parents Do? (When You're Not Home) by Jeanie Franz Ransom (Peachtree, 2007)
Young readers will laugh out loud at the antics of the parents in this delightful book by Missouri author Jeanie Franz Ransom.
Deep in the Swamp by Donna M. Bateman (Charlesbridge, 2007)
Swamp-dwelling mother animals and their babies are featured in this charming adaptation of "Over in the Meadow" by another Missouri author, Donna Bateman.