MAMA HUG

Mama and baby—best friends.

A brown-skinned mother with green-rimmed glasses gazes lovingly at a tan-skinned little one lying in a crib and reaching up to her. So begins a quietly joyful celebration of a day in the life of this pair, narrated in rhyming couplets: “Mama cuddle / Mama swing // Mama dance / Mama sing.” From bedroom to living room and out to a grassy yard, their day involves gentle play, Mama’s comforting of her child after a fall, plenty of tickles, routines such as mealtime and bathtime, and so much more. These two are never far apart, and their rounded figures bend tenderly toward one another; a particularly sweet spread depicts the baby lying on Mama’s chest (“Mama pillow on a Mama bed”). Lewis’ cheery, earth-toned palette of pinks, oranges, browns, and greens radiates the warmth exuded by the contented pair, subtly transitioning to the deep blues and purples of sunset when it’s time for bed. Straub’s spare yet meticulously written text effectively captures each loving moment and leaves room for the illustrations to tell their own, complementary story through details such as a patch of bright sunflowers and a special constellation on the last page. Readers will savor smaller background details as well: a picture of a banana hanging on the wall, stacks of alphabet blocks, and a green toy dinosaur.

Simply, gracefully perfect.