Review - Are You My Mother?

Are You My Mother?
by P. D. Eastman
Date: 1960
Publisher: Random House
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 72
Format: e-book
Source: library

A baby bird goes in search of his mother in this hilarious Beginner Book edited by Dr. Seuss. When a mother bird’s egg starts to jump, she hurries off to make sure she has something for her little one to eat. But as soon as she’s gone, out pops the baby bird. He immediately sets off to find his mother, but not knowing what she looks like makes it a challenge. The little hatchling is determined to find his mother, even after meeting a kitten, a hen, a dog, and a Snort. The timeless message of the bond between mother and child make P. D. Eastman’s Are You My Mother? a must for baby showers, beginning readers, and Mother’s Day.

Originally created by Dr. Seuss, Beginner Books encourage children to read all by themselves, with simple words and illustrations that give clues to their meaning.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

This wasn't a book that my sister and I had in own our collection as kids, but my grandmother had a copy. We read it plenty of times while visiting her house!

It's a silly story about a naive little bird who hatches from his egg while his mother is out collecting food. When he doesn't see her there, he goes off in search of her, asking various creatures and objects along the way the titular question. It's always funny when the bird moves on from asking animals to asking inanimate objects like airplanes and steam shovels if they're related; really, though, if you think about it, how would he know any better? (It's not like there was a mirror in that nest. He probably didn't even know what he was!)

The illustrations are simple but fun. I especially like the mama bird with her little red headscarf.

I hadn't read this in years (probably decades) but it's a classic that's held up pretty well. Today's kids are sure to get a giggle out of the baby bird's encounter with all his potential mothers... including the Snort!

Quotable moment:

 
Premise: 3/5
Meter: n/a
Writing: 3/5
Illustrations: 3/5
Originality: 4/5

Enjoyment: 4/5

Overall: 3.5 out of 5