What do you think?
Rate this book
My Working Mom
Everyone knows that it isn't always easy having a working mom, but this girl's mom has a job that keeps her whole family jumping!After all, when your mom is always flying off to meetings or mixing strange potions in her laboratory, life can be both trying and exciting. And even through Mom throws birthday parties that are out of this world, there are still those bats and frogs who always follow her around.
Peter Glassman's enchanting story, brewed together with Tedd Arnold's bewitching pictures, is sure to cast its spell on young readers, whoever and whatever their mothers may be.
Peter Glassman's enchanting story, brewed together with Tedd Arnold's bewitching pictures, is sure to cast its spell on young readers, whoever and whatever their mothers may be.
32 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 1994
1 person is currently reading
43 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
September 9, 2019
A young boy describes his working mother's witchy activities in this magical picture-book from author Peter Glassman** and illustrator Tedd Arnold. From potion-making to broom-flying, this witch keeps busy - but not so busy that she doesn't have time to be fully involved in her son's life, whether that be creating a very special birthday party, or cheering him on at his soccer matches. Although the boy sometimes wishes his mother didn't work, in the end he loves her just as she is.
As someone with an interest in witches in picture-books and early-readers - my "witchy-witches" project is a particular pleasure, and I try to read everything in the genre - I found My Working Mom quite entertaining. I appreciated the way that the narrative handles the issue of a child's sometimes conflicted feelings about his mother's working life - on the one hand he resents it, because it takes her away from him, but on the other hand he is proud of her accomplishments - without demonizing the mother or condemning the child. These feelings are natural, but Glassman's text leads children to consider the positives of having a working mom, all while presenting quite a magical tale. I also appreciated the fact that quite a bit of the humor here rests on the relationship between word and image, as nothing in the text ever explicitly ties the mother to witchcraft. That is left to the Arnold's colorful artwork, which has an engaging, cartoon-like style, and a zany sense of humor. Recommended to anyone looking for witchy picture-books, or for stories about children and their working moms.
**Full Disclosure: I am acquainted with Mr. Glassman, with whom I have worked in a professional capacity. Not as a witch, though...
As someone with an interest in witches in picture-books and early-readers - my "witchy-witches" project is a particular pleasure, and I try to read everything in the genre - I found My Working Mom quite entertaining. I appreciated the way that the narrative handles the issue of a child's sometimes conflicted feelings about his mother's working life - on the one hand he resents it, because it takes her away from him, but on the other hand he is proud of her accomplishments - without demonizing the mother or condemning the child. These feelings are natural, but Glassman's text leads children to consider the positives of having a working mom, all while presenting quite a magical tale. I also appreciated the fact that quite a bit of the humor here rests on the relationship between word and image, as nothing in the text ever explicitly ties the mother to witchcraft. That is left to the Arnold's colorful artwork, which has an engaging, cartoon-like style, and a zany sense of humor. Recommended to anyone looking for witchy picture-books, or for stories about children and their working moms.
**Full Disclosure: I am acquainted with Mr. Glassman, with whom I have worked in a professional capacity. Not as a witch, though...
August 9, 2012
An incredibly cute book about a kid and her working Mom. I love that the mom is a witch! The illustrations are really good, too.
April 2, 2018
This was a nice easy book for Rachel to read. The pictures were bright and colorful and it explained some feelings kids might have if their mom works.
October 3, 2020
Adorable picture book about a kid whose mom is busy because she works. It all sounds normal from the text, but in the pictures we see she is a witch.
September 27, 2022
As a working mom, I sought out books about working parents for my child... having the mom be a witch is a bonus with this one ;)
October 10, 2023
a cute reflection on the quirks of a parent not meeting expectations but still finding value in how they show up.
December 14, 2017
PICTURE BOOK 13
This is a great book to read at Halloween. You can use it for a fun lesson by reading it with the cover hidden, then having students draw predictions about what the job of the mom is. Then you can have some students share and then reveal the cover and read the book again. So fun!
This is a great book to read at Halloween. You can use it for a fun lesson by reading it with the cover hidden, then having students draw predictions about what the job of the mom is. Then you can have some students share and then reveal the cover and read the book again. So fun!
October 26, 2009
Summary: Everyone knows that it isn't always easy having a working mom, but this girl's mom has a job that keeps her whole family jumping! After all, when your mom is always flying off to meetings or mixing strange potions in her laboratory, life can be both trying and exciting. And even through Mom throws birthday parties that are out of this world, there are still those bats and frogs who always follow her around. Peter Glassman's enchanting story, brewed together with Tedd Arnold's bewitching pictures, is sure to cast its spell on young readers, whoever and whatever their mothers may be.
Potential Audience (reading level): k-3; early
Genre: Fictional picture book
Topic: Mothers who work/are busy, mothers who are unusual
Specific curricular uses: This book would serve as a good guided reading book or read aloud book for first grade. Students could then share what kinds of things their moms do.
Social issues the book addresses: Appreciating the working mom and all she does, accepting that sometimes her job could make her different from other parents.
Specific literary elements: The text in this story is very simple and pretty bland.
Interactions and counter actions of text and images: The pictures in this book are what make the story interesting and special! The text could apply to any working mom's situation, but the pictures in this book add humor and charm, as they establish that the mom's job is being a witch. It is this twist in the story that makes readers want to keep reading, otherwise the text would not be too exciting to read.
Potential Audience (reading level): k-3; early
Genre: Fictional picture book
Topic: Mothers who work/are busy, mothers who are unusual
Specific curricular uses: This book would serve as a good guided reading book or read aloud book for first grade. Students could then share what kinds of things their moms do.
Social issues the book addresses: Appreciating the working mom and all she does, accepting that sometimes her job could make her different from other parents.
Specific literary elements: The text in this story is very simple and pretty bland.
Interactions and counter actions of text and images: The pictures in this book are what make the story interesting and special! The text could apply to any working mom's situation, but the pictures in this book add humor and charm, as they establish that the mom's job is being a witch. It is this twist in the story that makes readers want to keep reading, otherwise the text would not be too exciting to read.
March 5, 2010
A book about a young girl, this story is based on a working mom, who practices witchcraft. The girl believes that sometimes her mom enjoys work more than spending time with her family but in the end she realizes that her mom is perfect just the way she is and that she would not want it any other way.
This colorful picture book has very intersting characteristics. As the book moves along, the pictures become more busy towards the middle of the book. The pictures then begin to become less busy again towards the end. The illustrator also uses borders on some pictures but not others. I find this to be very intersting. The borders are used on the pages with fewer images. This book could be useful for beginning readers because the text is usually in a white space that is less distracting than the rest of the pictures.
This colorful picture book has very intersting characteristics. As the book moves along, the pictures become more busy towards the middle of the book. The pictures then begin to become less busy again towards the end. The illustrator also uses borders on some pictures but not others. I find this to be very intersting. The borders are used on the pages with fewer images. This book could be useful for beginning readers because the text is usually in a white space that is less distracting than the rest of the pictures.
April 12, 2009
This book offers a tongue-in-cheek look at the dynamics of a family where the mom works out of the home (at least part time.) Although this is a book that is about a witch's family, its message is applicable to many families nowadays.
There are lots of typical halloween creatures in this book, so it'd be perfect for that time of year. Overall, it has some universal truths to it for most families and the halloween-themed illustrations are hilarious and cartoony. Great for reading aloud.
There are lots of typical halloween creatures in this book, so it'd be perfect for that time of year. Overall, it has some universal truths to it for most families and the halloween-themed illustrations are hilarious and cartoony. Great for reading aloud.
April 1, 2013
Glassman, P. (1991). My Working Mom. New York, NY: William Morrow and Company Inc.
Sub Group: Careers
Genre: Fiction
Topics: mother and daughter relationships, working mothers
Synopsis:
This is a funny story about a working mother with in unusual job, but still has time for the important things in her daughter’s life. She understands that her mother works very hard even though she misses her mother while at work, but understands that she has to work to take care of her
Sub Group: Careers
Genre: Fiction
Topics: mother and daughter relationships, working mothers
Synopsis:
This is a funny story about a working mother with in unusual job, but still has time for the important things in her daughter’s life. She understands that her mother works very hard even though she misses her mother while at work, but understands that she has to work to take care of her
November 3, 2015
My mom's daughter. She know his mom working hard. She's mom busy in her lab. She's flying off to meeting somewhere. She arrvied to them and them are women in lab. Sometime mom's work doest't go quite the way she planned. She's mom go to school and her show to people and she ride on stick. She show to people and people love her's mom is good. But she was great!
March 8, 2019
I love this!
The story depicts a child’s struggle with having a “working mom,” which opens a great dialogue for adults and children but the illustrations portray the mom as a witch in a Halloweentown-esque setting. Very festive for reading a story to small children around Halloween.
The story depicts a child’s struggle with having a “working mom,” which opens a great dialogue for adults and children but the illustrations portray the mom as a witch in a Halloweentown-esque setting. Very festive for reading a story to small children around Halloween.
August 17, 2007
As a working mom, I sought out books about working parents for my child... having the mom be a witch is a bonus with this one ;)
May 25, 2008
This book is so cute, quite a different take on the whole working mom thing.
January 20, 2009
Really cute picture book, especially good for kids with working moms.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews