MAMA AND MOMMY AND ME IN THE MIDDLE

A child misses their Mommy when she goes away for a few days.

On Monday, when “the sun is still hiding and the moon is still bright,” Mommy, a Black woman, wakes her young daughter with a kiss on the cheek. Like “always,” Mama, a White woman with purple hair, gets the plates, the child gets the silverware, and Mommy cooks pancakes. But, unlike most days, Mommy leaves for a work trip to a “faraway place,” to return on Sunday. After her departure, many things throw off the child’s routine and elicit big feelings. At the sidewalk cafe, there are two cups instead of the usual three. At the store, the child picks up “blueberries for Mommy” before remembering she isn’t home. The girl grows more and more despondent, eventually succumbing to tears; but after a snuggle from Mama, things begin to look up when the child gets an idea for how to welcome Mommy home. YA author LaCour’s picture-book debut, narrated from the child’s first-person perspective, is filled to the brim with love. Juanita’s mixed-media illustrations—a combination of spot art and full-bleed spreads—vividly capture the coziness of the family’s life and the range of emotions the child experiences. Visual motifs throughout—such as three raccoons crossing the street and three chairs at the cafe—subtly remind readers of Mommy’s absence. Mama has tattoos, and Mommy and the girl both have natural hair and skin patches that suggest vitiligo. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

A tender tale featuring a loving two-mom family that will resonate with any child who has ever missed a loved one.