Supermom

WONDERWISE

by Mick Manning, Brita Granstrom (Illustrator)

Supermom is everywhere—she's up in a tree, deep in the ocean, high in the sky, or she may even be standing next to you! Because Supermom is every mom, from a tiny ant to a giant blue whale. In this terrific tribute to moms, children will enjoy the fun mommy facts that are included. "Penquins travel for days to find fish for their babies," and "your mom goes out in all kinds of weather for your food, too!" An index at the end offers slightly more detailed information on some of the animal moms in the book.

Genres: Picture Books

32 pages, Hardcover

First published September 30, 1999

About the author

Manning went to school in Keighley and then studied at at Bradford College. He studied illustration and graphic design at Newcastle Polytechnic (now the University of Northumbria) 1979 - 82 and then illustration and animation at the Royal College of Art London 1984-87 . Later he devised and ran the BA honours Illustration option at the Glasgow School of Art while maintaining a freelance career. In 1998 he resigned to concentrate on writing and illustrating children's books full-time. British artist-illustrators Xavier Pick, Helen Stephens and Mark Hearld number among his ex-students. Manning's first book A Ruined House was chosen by Quentin Blake in The Laureate's Party (Red Fox) as one of his personal top 50 children's books of all time. Manning is known for his collaborations as author and co-illustrator with partner Brita Granström. Books from their young non-fiction series "Wonderwise" won the TES, Silver Smarties and English Association Awards and were also shortlisted for the Royal Society Science Book Prizes (then called The Rhone Poulenc) on three occasions. They won The English Association award again in 2005 with Voices of the Rainforest and again in 2008 with Greek Hero. Their book Yuck! is referenced in the Mike Leigh film Happy Go Lucky. Tail End Charlie, a picture book about his father's Second World War experience as an RAF air gunner during 1944 was shortlisted for, and televised on, the Blue Peter Book Awards 2010. It was also shortlisted for the ALCS Award and was nominated for the Carnegie Medal 2010. Manning is a direct descendant of 18th Century Italian artist Bonifacio Musso, and Musso's London-born son Charles Muss who was himself, among many other things, a British illustrator. In 2011 Mick and Brita won a fourth English Association Award with the follow up to Tail-End Charlie; Taff in the WAAF a fascinating book about his mother's war including her experiences as a Chicksands 'Y' station listener for Bletchley Park. In 2011 he was elected a Fellow of The English Association.

Manning's other children's non fiction picture books include science titles such as: How Did I Begin? (this book looks at the amazing development of a human baby from fertilised egg to birth and was shortlisted for the Rhone Poulenc Prize in 1996) Woolly Mammoth (with the NHM, London), Dino Dinners (with the NHM, London), Nature Adventures and 'What Mr Darwin Saw, (this book about the life of Charles Darwin and his discoveries was shortlisted for the Royal Society's science book prize in 2011.)

Reviews

[Poppy Thorpe · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very cute book about all the different kinds of mums. I feel very affirmed and part of creation after reading it! And Sophia loved the picture of the baby whale inside its Mummy's tummy. She drew it at nursery!

[Mina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Supermum is a book about all the different kinds of mothers that are out there; human ones and animal ones! There is no plot as such, but instead the book talks about the many different ways mothers look after their children as well as the things she does to nurture and protect her babies, e.g. "Supermum will do anything for her little ones! She'll go out in a storm to get her baby food." The pictures nicely correspond with the narrative. For example, with the previous extract, there is a picture of a penguin mum in a snowstorm and a human mum carrying shopping bags in a not so dissimilar storm!

I think this book is fantastic as it not only explores mother and child relationships, but children are also taught about different animals, their babies and their behaviours ("Waspsgrubs eat caterpillars. Osprey chicks eat fish.") There is also a great multi-cultural images of people around the world, which teaches children about human diversity and yet how we are all similar in a way. The book includes fun and practical activities at the back for great follow up sessions with the children.

I would estimate for this book to be aimed at those aged between 4 to 7 years old and would not only work well as a class reading with the activities to follow up but also for those who want to read it independently.

[Lindsay · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this story for this year's Mother's Day-themed Spanish and bilingual story time programs. What I liked about it is that it celebrates all types of moms, including animal moms. One of my favorite parts was a comparison between an animal mom (not sure which animal was featured) braving all kinds of dangers to get her babies food and a human mom going out in a storm to get groceries.

(It also shows a picture of a mom breast-feeding which would be a great story to use at a program for WIC. For story time, I clipped that picture back because it may upset some parents.)

[Kit · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked that it had breastfeeding and babywearing pictures, but what's up with describing the punk mama as scary?

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

Margaret picked this one up randomly. Yay for guest appearances by babywearing and breastfeeding. "All moms are supermoms."

[Inga-MamaRaka · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another mommies good read.
I'm a superwoman and need guidance to be a supermom.