 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
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Before I Was Your Mother
- By Kathryn Lasky
- Genre: Picture Book
Common Sense Media says
Conversation starter about the "olden days."
Parents say
Kids say
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this sweet and cozy book is an conversation starter with preschoolers about that crazy idea that you were young once, too.
What's the story?
Katie's mother wasn't always a grown-up who wears comfortable shoes and knows how to cook and fix things. Once she was a little girl just like Katie and she loved fancy shoes, dancing on trash can lids, and eating frosting roses.
Is it any good?
This book captures the cozy feeling of listening to a parent share their childhood stories -- from the times they got into trouble or behaved less than perfectly to the games they loved to play. What a pleasure it is to know that parents really do understand why siblings argue and why it's so hard to be quiet when mom is on the phone. Kids will get the picture that parents are people with their own likes and dislikes, even if they're too busy with grocery lists and bills to always indulge their interests.
Very young kids may not quite understand that the mom in the story is not the same as the mom who might be reading the story, but older kids probably will be inspired to cuddle up and ask their parents about their own best memories. LeUyen Pham's adept watercolors use soft brown tones to lend a sepia tint to the mother's memories, making it easy for readers to recognize what is a present-day picture and what isn't.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about childhood memories. Where are those old photo albums? What books and games did you read and play that your kids also like today? What kind of trouble did you get into?
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| Author: | Kathryn Lasky |
| Illustrator: | LeUyen Pham |
| Book type: | Fiction |
| Genre: | Picture Book |
| Publisher: | Harcourt |
| Publication date: | April 1, 2007 |
| Number of pages: | 40 |
| Hardcover price: | $16.00 |
| Paperback price: | $6.00 |
| Publisher's recommended age(s): | 3 - 7 |
| Read aloud: | 3 |
| Read alone: | 7 |
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