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<< Previous   of   Next >> Associated Press  (click to enlarge) "Mama's Saris," by Pooja Makhijani and Elena Gomez, is one of several new children's books that celebrate mothers.   ADVERTISEMENT   CONTACT THE HERALD Melanie Munk, Features Editor munk@heraldnet.com   Published: Tuesday, April 29, 2008 New children's books honor mothers By Leanne Italie Associated Press Special mom moments and plenty of kisses, along with some pesky siblings, highlight new children's book offerings for Mother's Day. A new activity book from American Girl is packed with mother-daughter quizzes, games and materials to make the most of quality time together, whether it's five minutes in the car or a weekend alone. Diane deGroat provides perspective for boys with another book featuring her popular Gilbert, a shaggy-haired opossum with a half-dozen best-sellers to his credit, including "Last One in is a Rotten Egg!" and "Trick or Treat, Smell My Feet." There are frog moms, pig moms, elephant moms, polar bear moms and moms who keep treasures under their beds. "Mommy's Best Kisses" ($6.99, ages newborn-5) by Margaret Anastas and illustrated by Susan Winter: Moms in the animal kingdom say "I love you" with kisses in this sweet little board book. Illustrations include an ostrich mom ("I kiss your pink knees while you laugh and you wiggle") and hippo mom (I kiss your rosy cheeks and you gurgle with glee). Human mom offers a goodnight kiss at the end, with a promise that tomorrow "we'll start all over again!" "Just Mom and Me" ($9.95, 8-12) by American Girl editors: Another in a series of spiral-bound American Girl activity books, this one offers mothers and daughters side-by-side lists to fill in with their favorite things, punch-out coupons promising hugs and kisses, and a "feel-good box" project to stock with special photos and sweets if the blues set it. "My Mommy and Me" ($7.99, ages 2-5) by Karen Hill and illustrated Melissa Iwai: This 7-inch-by-8-inch board book becomes a picture frame, with a slot for a photo on the cover and a sturdy stand in back. Inside, a daughter and mom dress up fancy for cookies and tea, gaze into a bright blue sky, "counting birds that fly so high," and build castles with pots and pans. Put out by Little Simon Inspirations, there's also thanks to God "for the love we share." "Mother, You're the Best! (But Sister, You're a Pest!)" ($16.99, ages 3-8) written and illustrated by Diane deGroat: Bespectacled Gilbert the opossum from the popular "Roses are Pink, Your Feet Really Stink" tries to make Mother's Day special, but the toast burns and the orange juice spills on the breakfast tray and little sister Lola keeps sucking up Mom's attention. Gilbert wrong-headedly tries to steer Lola clear and ends up giving their mother what she really wants for the holiday. "Fine as We Are" ($14.95, ages 4-8) written and illustrated by Algy Craig Hall: Little Frog is happy that it's just him and his mom on the pond but wishes he had someone to play leapfrog with, so he says "sure" when Mom asks whether he'd like a sibling. Until the little blobs he sees in the water grow squiggly tails, then a whole bunch of baby sisters and brothers materialize to crowd and annoy him. Big brother takes a firm hand and ends up having loads of fun. Hall was inspired by the birth of his own quadruplet siblings. "Mama's Saris" ($16.99, ages 3-6) by Pooja Makhijani and illustrated by Elena Gomez: It's daughter's 7th birthday and Mom pulls her suitcase of carefully folded saris from under her bed to dress up for the party. Daughter doesn't take no for an answer when Mom says she's not old enough to wear one as well. Lushly illustrated, there are saris in yellow satin, red wedding saris and the most special of all, a fiery orange one with red edging that Mom wore the day daughter came home from the hospital as a baby. Makhijani includes a glossary of Hindi words.

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