The Children’s Book Review | October 10, 2016
Mamas and babies everywhere will delight in this happy romp!
Happy Mamas
Written by Kathleen Pelley
Illustrated by Ruth E. Harper
Publisher’s Synopsis: Happy Mamas is a lyrical read aloud that pays tribute to the universal joys of mothering in the animal and in the human kingdoms. Charming illustrations depict all the activities that bring joy to a mama and her baby over the course of a day: feeding her little ones bundles of bamboo shoots, teaching her calf how to trumpet loud a jungle cheer, playing peek a boo, watching her little ones fly from the nest, singing a serenade to the man in the moon, or crooning owly lullabies through the deep dark woods. But as the moon glows and the stars shine, what is it that makes all Mamas from desert to jungle, from forest to field, from land to sea happiest by far?
Mamas and babies everywhere will delight in this happy romp – a perfect ode to Motherhood. Perfect for one on one sharing or for use in the classroom. Ages 3-6 (also available in Spanish)
Ages 3-6 | CWLA Press | October 10, 2016 | 978-1587601606
Available Here In English:
Available Here In Spanish:
Download the Free Story Hour Kit:
This story hour kit is designed to complement a reading of the picture book, Happy Mamas. Use this kit in an early childhood or elementary classroom, library, or bookstore or at a child’s party or play date. Available here.
About Kathleen Pelley
Kathleen Pelley was born in Glasgow, Scotland, but spent most of her childhood summers playing on her grandparents’ farm in Ireland. Her passion for stories stemmed from listening to them on the radio during the BBC children’s story hour. Later, her gentle Irish father fanned the flame even more by feeding her his tales of fairies, leprechauns, and banshees.
So much did Kathleen love stories, that off she went to Edinburgh University and earned a degree in HiSTORY. She didn’t much care for all the facts and dates and numbers, but how she loved the stories of Rasputin, Napoleon, and Bonnie Prince Charlie! One character in particular captured Kathleen’s imagination—Florence Nightingale. After completing her degree, Kathleen studied to become a children’s nurse, but it was a brief and disastrous dalliance. For much as Kathleen loved children, she did not like to see them sick and suffering. However, decades later, Kathleen now sees herself as a kind of a nurse, because she believes that stories can heal the hurts in our hearts.
As a former elementary teacher, Kathleen enjoys sharing her passion with people of all ages. She has been a regular speaker at Regis University on “Nurturing a Passion for Stories,” makes frequent presentations at schools and conferences, and has been telling stories at an inner city elementary school for the past 20 years. She believes that one of the best ways to teach our children empathy is through stories that help them “walk a mile in another man’s moccasins.” When she’s not reading, writing, telling, or listening to stories, Kathleen enjoys knitting, Scottish music, and hiking with her husband and two Golden Retriever dogs along the trails of sunny Colorado.
Learn more about Kathleen Pelley by following along with the Happy Mamas Blog Tour 2016.
Kathleen Pelley | Facebook | Twitter | Youtube | Pinterest | Google+
About Ruth E. Harper
Ruth is a self-taught English artist who fancies herself as a spiffy writer-in-the-making. She is the illustrator of #1 classic The Kissing Hand and Sassafras, and Happy Mamas is her 3rd book for CWLA. Powered by dark chocolate, she heartily knits stories together with letters, pencils and paintbrushes. She is often snatched up by breezes and colors and pint-sized things like rocks, leaves, shells, bugs, feathers, and creatures. You may also find her gardening, hiking, wildly dancing, and riding her bike really fast in an odd looking helmet. She now breathes easy in Iowa with an adorable husband, a dog, two cats, and six marvelous kids between them (with handfuls of grandbabies!). See her art at www.rutheharper.com.
Discover more books like Happy Mamas, by Kathleen Pelley, on The Children’s Book Review by checking out our articles tagged with Baby Animal Books, Books for Mother’s Day, Dr. Ruth E. Harper, Kathleen Pelley, Mommy books, and Mothers.
28 Comments
I tell the moms I know that they are great moms, especially when they are having a rough day. Motherhood is fun, messy, trying and tiring but the rewards are a treasure forever!
I always tell moms I know that they have one of the greatest jobs in the world. That they’re the most special people in the world and have a job that puts them in the hardest working people on the planet. Motherhood needs to be honored.
Carol L
I always compliment mom’s on there children and them for all their hard work.
Mothers are the backbone of the family.
Marilyn
Being a mom is the greatest joy in the world and letting other mom’s know that they’re also doing a great job means a lot to them.
I love to buy Mamas books to read to their little ones and I always share my favorite parenting tip: Always read them the author and illustrators names. (The conditioning really works. My 4 daughters could recognize illustrators when they were 2 and all 4 competed in school competitions for books and authors.)
Mothers are strong and have the resilience necessary to manage life and all of is problems.
giving her a day off of cooking
My favorite thing do is give them a little me time. My daughter loves using her me time to take a long soak in the tub because when you have a child you can’t even use the restroom by yourself lol.
I like to give my Mom friends a little time for themselves by babysitting for them an afternoon a month. I do this for 4 friends, so every Wednesday afternoon, I babysit. Mom’s deserve the best!
I pay tribute by making them a favorite goody now and then. One such goody made at times is Banana Walnut Bread. Then I tell them I love them over the phone and give them hugs when I see them in person.
Always show them respect and love
With cards for every important occassion
I buy them things to show what an insightful, tasteful item purchaser I am.
I always tribute the Moms in the family at Mother’s Day with a special day.
by keeping in touch – phone calls, emails, whatever
I try to acknowledge what a supper job moms are doing
I call my Mom every week and give books to young moms I know!
by showing them love in everything i do for them
Keep telling her how much I love her!
Letting her know how much she means to me.
I always tell the women I meet how great they are doing with their kids.
By teaching respect for mothers and grandmothers.
I tell my mom & mother in law that I love them everytime I see them
I pay tribute to the Happy Moms in my life by showing love in words and deeds.
I pay tribute to “Happy Mamas” is my life by doing random acts of kindness for them.
I always show the moms in my life they matter and tell them how much I appreciate then.
Bring them coffee then slowly back away.