Parents' Guide to

Mars Needs Moms!

By Patricia Tauzer, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 6+

Martian message more for moms than kids.

Book Berkeley Breathed Picture Book 2007
Mars Needs Moms! Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this book.

Community Reviews

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age 5+

Based on 2 parent reviews

May Lillian
May Lillian Parent of 3, 5 and 9-year-old
March 28, 2011
age 6+

For older kids who do not get scared by much

As an adult, I loved the pictures and laughed at the story. I knew from reading the review here that my 4-year-old son was probably too young for the story and he was. He was scared about Martians coming into the house to take moms and worried about it for the rest of the night. What surprized me was that my 6-year-old son, who I read it to separately, was also scared by the idea of mom-napping and the peril of the humans gasping for air on Mars. Afterward, he told me that he didn't want to hear it ever again. The Martians are colorful and funny-looking, not scary, so I never expected it would be so scary to them.

This title has:

Too much violence
Mom818
Mom818 Parent of 4 and 12-year-old
September 30, 2010
age 4+

Sweet funny read

I thought this book was witty and heartfelt. The illustrations were wonderful and both my daughter and I enjoyed reading it over and over.

This title has:

Great messages
See all 2 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Milo can't figure out what makes moms so special. To him, they seem like ogres whose main intent is to make his life miserable. However, a mom-nabbing attempt by Martians, a rocket trip to Mars, and a near-death experience teaches him an important lesson and answers his question once and for all.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: (2 ):
Kids say: Not yet rated

Told in language that is clever though at times too sophisticated for small kids, this book is offbeat and captivating, and the ending is a sentimental tearjerker. Older kids may relate to Milo's unhappiness with his mother, though younger kids probably won't get it. Older kids also will enjoy the mom-nabbing attempts and the rocket ride. However, the part about why the Martians need moms seems written for parents themselves.

The cartooning has the typical fun and engaging Bloom County look for which the author is famous. The darkness of the illustrations with the first section, though intriguing, may be unsettling to younger kids. But the cartooning in the rest of the book is lighter, brighter, equally as expressive, and perhaps more entertaining. The very things that make this book complicated and uneven also may make it a book that will remain of interest through many readings.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the book's complicated language with smaller kids. Why does Milo think mothers were "giant, summer-stealing, child-working, perfumy garden goblins" or "broccoli bullies" or "carrot-cuddling cuckoos"?

  • Kids will enjoy talking about the depiction of the colorful Martians and their world. Do you think creatures really live on Mars? What would they look like? Would you ever want to go to Mars? What do you think it would be like?

  • And finally, what do you think makes moms special?

Book Details

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