The Mommy Book

Although some mommies drive motorcycles, and others drive minivans; some mommies go fishing while others go shopping, all mommies want their children to be who they are. That's Todd Parr's story, and he's sticking with it (as reinforced by his It's Okay to Be Different, This Is My Hair, and lots more funky, friendly picture books). Using his trademark style of brightly colored stick figures, with bold outlined smiley faces for heads, Parr portrays a world of diversity and peace in his simple, esteem-boosting titles. Moms are celebrated here (naturally, you'll find dads in The Daddy Book), in all their traditional, eccentric, athletic, hip, nurturing glory. Each spread shows moms doing their thing: dancing moms opposite swimming moms, short-hair moms next to big-hair moms, and work-at-home moms across from work-in-big-buildings moms. The refrain is that all moms love their kids: "All mommies like to hang out with you!" "All mommies like to watch you sleep!" The Mommy Book is reassuring and fun. (Ages 3 to 6) --Emilie Coulter