A MOTHER’S SONG

From spring through winter a mother celebrates her bond with her daughter in syrupy, limping doggerel. “Listen with me / to the happiest birds / calling, ‘Good morning!’ / with chirp-chirping words.” The verse marches along in lockstep, forcing unnatural stresses to maintain scansion. While there is the occasional fresh image—“Feel summer showers / fall cool on our toes, / before running off / to wherever rain goes”—the text is only distinguished by its appeal to the maudlin. Kemly’s soft pastels largely reflect the text’s aesthetic, but she adds a small black-and-white dog to most double-page spreads, which provides continuity and a bit of fun. There’s no question this mother-daughter pair is enjoying each other’s company, but this is far from the only book with such a portrayal. (Picture book. 3-5)