Me & Mama

by Cozbi A Cabrera (Author) Cozbi A Cabrera (Illustrator)

Me & Mama
Reading Level: K − 1st Grade

A Caldecott and Coretta Scott King Honor Book

Mama's love is brighter than the sun, even on the rainiest of days. This celebration of a mother-daughter relationship is perfect for sharing with little ones!

On a rainy day when the house smells like cinnamon and Papa and Luca are still asleep, when the clouds are wearing shadows and the wind paints the window with beads of water, I want to be everywhere Mama is.

With lyrical prose and a tender touch, the Caldecott and Coretta Scott King Honor Book Mama and Me is an ode to the strength of the bond between a mother and a daughter as they spend a rainy day together.

Select format:
Hardcover
$18.99

Kirkus

A beautifully illustrated, slice-of-life ode of adoration for doting daughters and marvelous mamas.

ALA/Booklist

A warm tribute to a special family relationship and comforting home.

School Library Journal

Starred Review

PreS-Gr 2--A young Black girl enjoys a rainy day alone with her mother, savoring each ordinary moment for the joyful expression of love it represents. From combing their hair to a song-filled walk under cloudy skies, every part of the day is cherished because it is spent together. Mama is as bright as the sun and daughter orbits around her, basking in the glow of her kindness and understanding. Told from the daughter's perspective, the simple yet lyrical prose shines with trust and pride in the bond the two share. The muted color palette and painterly style of the art evoke a cozy sense of security. While realistically portrayed, each image has a soft, dreamlike quality that also highlights the timelessness of the story. VERDICT A strong portrait of familial connection, this title captures the essence of unconditional love between parent and child, and is recommended for all picture book collections.--Sophie Kenney, Aurora P.L., IL

Copyright 2020 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Publishers Weekly

Starred Review

Told from a first-person point of view, this quietly engaging picture book unfolds on a rainy morning, with a Black girl who "want to/ be everywhere Mama is." Waking up before Papa and younger sibling Luca, the girl narrates aspects of the mother and daughter's morning routine ("A shower is warm rain that gets you going"), comparing their respective cups and toothbrushes, oatmeal with toppings, and rain boots. Sensory details, fittingly tangential childlike observations, and familial dialogue make the narrative feel immediate and genuine ("I don't like the bumblebee barrette, I say..../ She knows I mean just today"). Cabrera's striking acrylic visuals recall painters such as Jordan Casteel and Maira Kalman. While a few of the girl's lines feel nebulously philosophical ("Some things don't let go. But for what?/ The stores are boxes filled with people"), the narrative offers an elegant testament to the love-filled bonds between child and parent. Ages 4-8. (Aug.)

Copyright 2020 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

Review quotes



Cozbi A Cabrera
Cozbi A. Cabrera received a BFA from Parsons School of Design. She is the illustrator of several acclaimed children's picture books. She also designs clothes and makes cloth dolls that have garnered the attention of collectors around the world and have been featured on the Oprah Winfrey Show. She lives in Chicago.
Classification
Fiction
ISBN-13
9781534454217
Lexile Measure
470
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
Denene Millner Books/Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Publication date
August 25, 2020
Series
-
BISAC categories
JUV013060 - Juvenile Fiction | Family | Parents
JUV011010 - Juvenile Fiction | People & Places | United States - African-American
JUV014000 - Juvenile Fiction | Girls & Women
Library of Congress categories
Mothers and daughters
Caldecott Medal
Honor Book
Coretta Scott King Award
Honor Book

Subscribe to our delicious e-newsletter!