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My Mother Is Mine
Celebrate the warm and loving bond between mothers and children -- of all kinds.
40 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2001
5 people are currently reading
67 people want to read
About the author
Marion Dane Bauer
170 books189 followersMarion Dane Bauer is the author of more than one hundred books for young people, ranging from novelty and picture books through early readers, both fiction and nonfiction, books on writing, and middle-grade and young-adult novels. She has won numerous awards, including several Minnesota Book Awards, a Jane Addams Peace Association Award for RAIN OF FIRE, an American Library Association Newbery Honor Award for ON MY HONOR, a number of state children's choice awards and the Kerlan Award from the University of Minnesota for the body of her work.
She is also the editor of and a contributor to the ground-breaking collection of gay and lesbian short stories, Am I Blue? Coming Out from the Silence.
Marion was one of the founding faculty and the first Faculty Chair for the Master of Fine Arts in Writing for Children and Young Adults program at Vermont College of Fine Arts. Her writing guide, the American Library Association Notable WHAT'S YOUR STORY? A YOUNG PERSON'S GUIDE TO WRITING FICTION, is used by writers of all ages. Her books have been translated into more than a dozen different languages.
She has six grandchildren and lives in St. Paul, Minnesota, with her partner and a cavalier King Charles spaniel, Dawn.
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INTERVIEW WITH MARION DANE BAUER
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Q. What brought you to a career as a writer?
A. I seem to have been born with my head full of stories. For almost as far back as I can remember, I used most of my unoccupied moments--even in school when I was supposed to be doing other "more important" things--to make up stories in my head. I sometimes got a notation on my report card that said, "Marion dreams." It was not a compliment. But while the stories I wove occupied my mind in a very satisfying way, they were so complex that I never thought of trying to write them down. I wouldn't have known where to begin. So though I did all kinds of writing through my teen and early adult years--letters, journals, essays, poetry--I didn't begin to gather the craft I needed to write stories until I was in my early thirties. That was also when my last excuse for not taking the time to sit down to do the writing I'd so long wanted to do started first grade.
Q. And why write for young people?
A. Because I get my creative energy in examining young lives, young issues. Most people, when they enter adulthood, leave childhood behind, by which I mean that they forget most of what they know about themselves as children. Of course, the ghosts of childhood still inhabit them, but they deal with them in other forms--problems with parental authority turn into problems with bosses, for instance--and don't keep reaching back to the original source to try to fix it, to make everything come out differently than it did the first time. Most children's writers, I suspect, are fixers. We return, again and again, usually under the cover of made-up characters, to work things through. I don't know that our childhoods are necessarily more painful than most. Every childhood has pain it, because life has pain in it at every stage. The difference is that we are compelled to keep returning to the source.
Q. You write for a wide range of ages. Do you write from a different place in writing for preschoolers than for young adolescents?
A. In a picture book or board book, I'm always writing from the womb of the family, a place that--while it might be intruded upon by fears, for instance--is still, ultimately, safe and nurturing. That's what my own early childhood was like, so it's easy for me to return to those feelings and to recreate them.
When I write for older readers, I'm writing from a very different experience. My early adolescence, especially, was a time of deep alienation, mostly from my peers but in some ways from my family as well. And so I write my older stories out of that pain, that longing for connection. A story has to have a problem at its core. No struggle
She is also the editor of and a contributor to the ground-breaking collection of gay and lesbian short stories, Am I Blue? Coming Out from the Silence.
Marion was one of the founding faculty and the first Faculty Chair for the Master of Fine Arts in Writing for Children and Young Adults program at Vermont College of Fine Arts. Her writing guide, the American Library Association Notable WHAT'S YOUR STORY? A YOUNG PERSON'S GUIDE TO WRITING FICTION, is used by writers of all ages. Her books have been translated into more than a dozen different languages.
She has six grandchildren and lives in St. Paul, Minnesota, with her partner and a cavalier King Charles spaniel, Dawn.
-------------------------------------
INTERVIEW WITH MARION DANE BAUER
-------------------------------------
Q. What brought you to a career as a writer?
A. I seem to have been born with my head full of stories. For almost as far back as I can remember, I used most of my unoccupied moments--even in school when I was supposed to be doing other "more important" things--to make up stories in my head. I sometimes got a notation on my report card that said, "Marion dreams." It was not a compliment. But while the stories I wove occupied my mind in a very satisfying way, they were so complex that I never thought of trying to write them down. I wouldn't have known where to begin. So though I did all kinds of writing through my teen and early adult years--letters, journals, essays, poetry--I didn't begin to gather the craft I needed to write stories until I was in my early thirties. That was also when my last excuse for not taking the time to sit down to do the writing I'd so long wanted to do started first grade.
Q. And why write for young people?
A. Because I get my creative energy in examining young lives, young issues. Most people, when they enter adulthood, leave childhood behind, by which I mean that they forget most of what they know about themselves as children. Of course, the ghosts of childhood still inhabit them, but they deal with them in other forms--problems with parental authority turn into problems with bosses, for instance--and don't keep reaching back to the original source to try to fix it, to make everything come out differently than it did the first time. Most children's writers, I suspect, are fixers. We return, again and again, usually under the cover of made-up characters, to work things through. I don't know that our childhoods are necessarily more painful than most. Every childhood has pain it, because life has pain in it at every stage. The difference is that we are compelled to keep returning to the source.
Q. You write for a wide range of ages. Do you write from a different place in writing for preschoolers than for young adolescents?
A. In a picture book or board book, I'm always writing from the womb of the family, a place that--while it might be intruded upon by fears, for instance--is still, ultimately, safe and nurturing. That's what my own early childhood was like, so it's easy for me to return to those feelings and to recreate them.
When I write for older readers, I'm writing from a very different experience. My early adolescence, especially, was a time of deep alienation, mostly from my peers but in some ways from my family as well. And so I write my older stories out of that pain, that longing for connection. A story has to have a problem at its core. No struggle
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
May 5, 2015
This was a beautifully done picture book for Mother's Day or for any cuddle up time with your young listener. Each page has a different Mama animal and her baby and a phrase like "My mother is pretty""She holds me tight""My mother watches me" "My mother feeds me" very basic phrases per page. Very touching book for a mama to read to her little one. I read it to my 3 year old granddaughter and as we turned each page she would point to the Mama and say "Mama" and to the little one and "MeggieBeth" (which is her name) was sweet to know she associated all those things in the book to her own Mama. We pointed out each different type of animal as we went along as well. So much to this simple book.
July 17, 2015
cute story to read to baby Elizabeth. :D
May 25, 2017
This was sitting on a donation pile, and now we have to catalog it for the library! I like it in two ways. It is a nice mommy tribute from the perspective of a child, and it has the baby animal, mommy animal aspect which was extra sweet! I like the pictures and...well it is going into our collection (and that says something....LOL...I usually don't like anything...."
February 1, 2020
As a solo mom this is a wonderful book to read with my son! We talk about each of the different animals and what a mama and baby is called. I like that there are phrases like “my mother is strong” as well as “my mother is brave.”
June 21, 2017
I do not see the appeal.
November 30, 2018
It was a good read.
February 12, 2019
Cute book about mothers. Great for Mother’s Day or for a unit on animal families or just families.
August 8, 2023
Lovely.
April 17, 2013
In My Mother is Mine, various motherly attributes are described through rhyming verse and paired with beautiful soft pastel illustrations depicting a variety of baby animals with their mothers. Each attribute is shown relating to each animal pictured but also relates to human mothers as well, leading to the ending where a little girl makes a card to show her appreciation and love for her own mother. Having seen both the original hardcover version and this board book version, I honestly think this book works better as a board book. The story and layout are very suitable and age appropriate for the board book audience, holding appeal for newborns up through younger toddlers. The story’s short and simple rhyming verse describing the various ways a mother is special is very appealing to little ones and will likely hold their attention more easily as well. Additionally, the format of text on one page paired with illustration on the other also makes it uncluttered and visually stimulating for even young babies. I would definitely recommend this book and I think it would make a perfect baby shower/new mother gift.
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April 29, 2014My Mother is Mine is a great book for young students. It tells of a young bear that realizes that his mother is very unique and special to him. Many students take their parents for granted and do not realize how much they should really treasure them. A teacher could find this useful in the classroom for many reasons. They could read this book before introducing a unit on a family structure or they could use it as a tool during a lesson plan about students hero’s or idol’s. The young bear realizes that his mom has been a key role in his life and is continuing to make a positive impact. The bear realizes that he would never want his mom to not be a large part of his life. Students could explain a special person in their life that they look up to. I will be keeping this book in my classroom for students to read.
June 25, 2015
"My Mother is Mine" by Marion Dane Bauer. The pictures in this book are very soft. It gives a warm comfortable feeling as you are reading. The adjectives in the book describing mothers each correspond with the picture, so for example the phrase “my mother is strong” is paired with a picture of a young cub and a tiger.
This book was enjoyable because it made me think of my own mother, and how I will be a mother someday. It would appeal to children because there are a lot of animal mothers attending their children. Finally the human mother and child appear at the end tying the story together.
This book was enjoyable because it made me think of my own mother, and how I will be a mother someday. It would appeal to children because there are a lot of animal mothers attending their children. Finally the human mother and child appear at the end tying the story together.
January 29, 2015
I chose this book because it looked kid friendly. I liked this book because of how easy it'd be for little kids to read. It was definitely a quick read, but it made you think about your personal relationship with your own mom. Although now that I think about it, with this generation you need to be careful about kinships because some kids may not have their mom. Just something to keep in mind when sharing this book with your class.
August 7, 2008
Picture book of animals with their babies. "My mother feeds me. She holds me tight. She never forgets to kiss me goodnight. My mother is special. My mother is fine. My mother my mother. My mother is mine."
March 7, 2013
This book teaches children how different mothers are. this book teaches children about how mothers are special in different ways and forms.
Learning Extension: Have the children write a letter to their mothers telling them how they are special and why.
Learning Extension: Have the children write a letter to their mothers telling them how they are special and why.
March 3, 2013
I can't resist liking a book that is all about how amazing mothers are, especially since my daughter loves it so much. It has pictures of different animals on every page but applies to human moms as well, and of course, ends on a human mother.
October 7, 2022
A darling book that celebrates how wonderful mothers are. My favorite? "My mother is strong."
**Talking points - What are your favorite things about your mother? Could you make a book for her with words and pictures? What are the other people in your family like?
**Talking points - What are your favorite things about your mother? Could you make a book for her with words and pictures? What are the other people in your family like?
February 17, 2009
Really nice illustrations and touching story
March 30, 2011
This is a very cute book about mothers. It reads like a poem and it has different animal mothers and babies for each page. It has become our daughter's bedtime story.
February 11, 2012
I love it for my birth to three year olds. It's touching and my older kids could identify the characteristics of the animal mothers to their own mothers. That's a success in my book!
April 11, 2012
Sweet book about a mother's love.
July 29, 2012
So precious to read to your little one, my 3 & 5 year old like me to read this one to them a lot!
December 22, 2012
Sweet book and lovely pictures. Great read for my granddaughter and me.
September 27, 2013
Very sweet book, perfect for mother's day.
January 22, 2014
A sweet picture book depicting the attributes of different animal mothers, which also apply to human mothers. Beautiful soft illustrations perfectly match the touching text.
March 20, 2014
Mommy says the pictures are a bit muted to keep my 8 month old attention, but she really enjoys reading it with me.
April 7, 2016
Love this sweet book, the illustrations are lovely.
May 8, 2016
This is such a sweet little book! Not a lot of text, but what's there is great. I very much enjoyed reading it for my Mother's Day storytime.
August 1, 2019
Sweet & simple, lists all kinds of reasons to love your mother.
April 10, 2016
Great book for finding out about relationships with family
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews