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<< Previous   of   Next >> (click to enlarge) "What's Inside Your Tummy, Mommy?" written and illustrated by Abby Cocovini (click to enlarge) "Baby Face: A Book of Love for Baby" by Cynthia Rylant, illustrated by Diane Goode   ADVERTISEMENT   CONTACT THE HERALD Melanie Munk, Features Editor munk@heraldnet.com   Published: Sunday, May 4, 2008 Books for children: Celebrate mom's love for baby By Kendal A. Rautzhan Special to The Herald The dictionary defines "mother" as one who either gives birth to or cares and protects like a mother. Not all who mother are biological mothers. Sometimes single fathers must play the role of mother as well as father. We may find a grandmother, aunt or other caring female in the role of mothering a child. There are stepmothers, foster mothers, and mothers who've adopted their children. Successful mothering is no simple task. Mothers must wear lots of different hats while they protect, love, teach and care for their young. Mothers also know the importance of allowing their children the freedom to explore on their own, to make their own choices, both good and bad, while gently nudging their children out of the nest toward independence and self-sufficiency. There is no job that has greater challenges or greater rewards than that of a mother. Happy Mother's Day! Books to borrow The following book is available from many public libraries. "The Quilt" by Gary Paulsen, Wendy Lamb Books, 83 pages For ages: 8 and older. In a rural area of Minnesota in 1944, a 6-year-old boy is spending the summer with his strong and loving grandmother, Alida. The men have gone off to fight in the war, leaving the women behind to run the farms. The boy helps as much as he can, but when he and his grandmother are called to his cousin's farm to help with the birth of her first born, there is little that he can do. Women quickly fill the house, and while they wait for the baby to come, the women work on the quilt -- the quilt of the boy's family. Each patchwork holds a story, and as they share the stories with one another, the boy learns about love and sadness, sorrow and joy, death and new life. Librarian's choice Library: Snohomish Library, 311 Maple Ave., Snohomish Director: Rebecca L. Loney Children's librarian: Jennifer Sullivan Choices this week: "Sarah, Plain and Tall" by Patricia MacLachlan; "Mr. Gumpy's Outing" by John Burningham; "Thunder Cake" by Patricia Polacco Books to buy The following books are available at favorite bookstores. "Baby Face: A Book of Love for Baby" by Cynthia Rylant, illustrated by Diane Goode, 40 pages For ages: 1 to 3. Six rhyming verses celebrate a baby's day and how much a baby is loved. First steps, bath time, long walks in the stroller to see the world, first teeth, bedtime -- a baby's day is busy and filled with love. A joyful celebration of all the wonderful, treasured moments in a baby's life, "Baby Face" is perfect for Mother's Day. "What's Inside Your Tummy, Mommy?" written and illustrated by Abby Cocovini, 20 pages For ages: 3 to 8 and older. Children are naturally curious when their mother is pregnant, and this marvelous book explains what goes on inside a mommy's tummy throughout each month of pregnancy. Simple, engaging text is perfectly matched with clear, happy illustrations, making the abstract idea of pregnancy easy to understand. And there's no mention of how the baby got into mommy's tummy (for families who aren't ready for that talk). Help answer a child's questions about the new sibling that will arrive as well as the child's own first beginnings with this excellent book, "Mommy, What's Inside Your Tummy?" Nationally syndicated, Kendal Rautzhan writes and lectures on children's literature. She can be reached via e-mail: kendal@sunlink.net.

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