JUST LIKE MAMA

A little girl lists the many things that no one can do “just like Mama.” From waking her up through preparing breakfast, gardening, playing dress-up and so on, Mama demonstrates her expertise all day long. In addition to traditionally nurturing things like preparing meals and snuggling, this Mama plays ball and belches (after the two of them slurp up a “mountain of spaghetti”). Gorton’s illustrations employ a limited palette and strong, confident lines that skew perspective playfully. They take advantage of the opportunities offered by the text, depicting the little girl’s short blond hair in multiple tiny, spiky braids and a spattering of tomato sauce on her freckled face at suppertime. Newman’s verse occasionally sacrifices syntax to scansion, but it stays on the bearable side of saccharine, making this an acceptable purchase this season. (Picture book. 3-5)