Ma Dear's Aprons

by Patricia C. McKissack, Floyd Cooper (Illustrator)

Newbery Honor author Patricia McKissack and Coretta Scott King Award–winning illustrator Floyd Cooper lovingly recreate a slice of turn-of-the-century Southern life for a single black mother and her son in this sweet picture book.

Little David Earl always knows what day of the week it is. He can tell by the clean, snappy-fresh apron Ma Dear is wearing, a different color for every day.

Monday means washing, with Ma Dear scrubbing at her tub in a blue apron. Tuesday is ironing, in a sunshine yellow apron that brightens Ma’s spirits. And so it goes until Sunday, when Ma Dear doesn’t have to wear an apron and they can set aside some special no-work time, just for themselves.

Genres: Picture Books, Historical Fiction, African American, Fiction, Childrens, 2nd Grade, Cultural

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1997

About the author

Patricia C. McKissack was the Newbery Honor, Coretta Scott King Award-winning author of The Dark-Thirty and Porch Lies an ALA Notable Book. She collaborated with Jerry Pinkney on Goin' Someplace Special (Coretta Scott King Award winner) and Mirandy and Brother Wind (Coretta Scott King Award winner and Caldecott Honor Book).

Reviews

[Abigail · Rating 3 out of 5]

David Earl always knows what day of the week it is, based on his mother, Ma Dear's aprons. Each day has its appointed task - laundry on Monday, ironing on Tuesday, deliveries on Wednesday, visiting shut-ins on Thursday, cleaning houses on Friday, and baking on Saturday - and each day has its different color apron. But whatever color she is wearing, and whatever she is doing, hardworking Ma Dear is never too tired to tell her son stories, or give him a special treat. On Sunday, the day of no work and no apron, they head to the park after church for a picnic...

Based on the stories handed down in her family about her great-grandmother, author Patricia C. McKissack created this moving, heartfelt portrait of the loving bond between an African-American mother and son in the American South at the beginning of the twentieth century. The narrative is engaging, and emphasizes the back-breaking work that Ma Dear must do, in order to support her family. The artwork, done by the immensely talented Floyd Cooper in oil wash on board, captures both that hard work, and the loving relationship between Ma Dear and David Earl. Recommended to anyone looking for picture-book family stories, especially those featuring poverty, working people, and/or African-Americans.

[Amy Layton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book celebrates the hard work of a single black mother and the little things in life that cheer both her and her son up.  Though routine and at times monotonous, Ma Dear and her son's life is a content one, filled with hard work and an appreciation for what they have.  Using Ma Dear's aprons as a means to celebrate their family and their hard work is such a nice way of showing how work and pleasure can intertwine, though they don't often do.  It's great for kids grades 1-3!

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful

This was a beautiful story. I remember a lot of those things from down south. I loved reading this to my granddaughter. I would recommend this book.

[Robyn Simmons · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story tells about the life of a young boy named David Earl and his mother Ma Dear. David Earl and Ma Dear don't have much. They live in a shack and travel by hitching wagons. The two develop a strong relationship throughout this text. He helps his mother to do chores in and outside of the house. This book is a great read for primary classrooms, because it enforces the days of the week and introduces the concept of schedules.

[Rachel Dalton · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a beautiful book that addresses the struggles of an African American single mother and her son in what appears to be the 19th century. It would be great to use for working on character perspective and also in a history unit that focuses on the African American/Caucasian divisions of the time period.

[Leah D · Rating 5 out of 5]

Genre: Diverse
Awards: Coretta Scott King Award
Audience: Grades K-2
A. The North American culture in the south during the 1900s. There were times of segregation. African Americans were looked at as a lower race of humans. It isn't as highly emphasized in this story, but there are light hints of it.
B. There weren't really any cultural events discussed per say in this book. The story was about the life of his great-grandmother. It hinted at societal norms though for that time period. Since the story took place in the 1900s, segregation still existed. Those people of color were given the lower class level jobs. In this book, it talked about how the boy's great-grandmother did the "back breaking" jobs like laundry and house cleaning. She made her living off that career. By discussing her job, it suggested the time period because of the fact that the job wasn't spoken in a positive way all the time and it was referenced as being a job that not many wanted.
C. I believe that the author spoke of the culture in mostly a positive way. It talked about what was a typical week for her great-grandmother. In my point of view, she spoke of it in a way that made me think of it as the normal life of an everyday person. If it weren't for the pictures, I don't think it would have been harder to even realize her race. Also, it took place during times of segregation and those weren't positive times. It was difficult for a lot of people to live through and the fact that the author didn't speak of anything directly about that also gives the positive vibe towards the culture.
D. Do you believe that the author did a good job at telling a story that represented the time period well?
Answer: Yes, I do believe she did. First of all, this was based upon a true story, so it actually happened. Second, she was good at describing specifics of what was done each day. By doing that, it helps supports the culture during that time period. The more details the stronger representation her story will be.

[Cassandra Gelvin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Being a single mom is tough.

It's pretty. It's also very wordy, though the words are good. It kind of makes me think of Clare Turlay Newberry's books. It's inspired by the author's great-grandmother: a single mother whose husband had died, living in the early 1900s. The woman in the story has one son, and every day of the week except Sunday she wears a different apron. On Monday, she washes and tells her son the story of his father, a soldier who died fighting out west. On Tuesday, she irons. On Wednesday, she goes to get the money for the laundry. On Thursday, they go visit the sick and shut-in. On Friday, she takes her son and goes and cleans somebody's house. On Saturday, they bake pies and sell them at the train station and he gets a bath. On Sunday, they go to church. The end.

It's historical fiction. The writing is well done, evocative, and engaging. There's not much to it. It just takes place over the course of a week and talks about the things that these two people typically do, giving an actual example. Like, "Today is the day we do X. Let's go do X." But much better written than that, obviously. The relationship between the mother and the son is tender and interesting. A cute part is when she peels an apple without breaking the skin and then gives her son the skin and says, "Throw it over your shoulder and it will form the first letter of the name of someone who loves you," and her son does that and it forms the letter 'J,' and she winks because her name is Jonelle.

There's no character development or anything; it's just a well-written story of a single mother and her son around the turn of the 20th century.

Message: No matter how hard your mother has to work, she still loves you.

For more children's book reviews, see my website at http://www.drttmk.com.

[Hannah Myers · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Ma Dear's Aprons" by Patricia McKissack is a thoughtful, engaging story about the relationship between a young boy and his single, working mother. The story takes us back to the time when there were horse-drawn wagons, washboards instead of washing machines, and the act of doing laundry was a time consuming process. Students reading this book will be amazed at how life was for a family in the first half of the 20th century. Since the story is told from the little boy's point of view, students can relate to his feelings of boredom, excitement, and love as the story progresses.

Each day Ma Dear wears a different colored apron. David Earl is able to tell what day it is, and what chores they have to do that day, based on the color of the apron his mother wears. His narratives about their daily work bring to light the themes of family bonds, a mother's love, the meaning of hard work, and how teamwork gets the job done. The illustrations are perfectly done to help display these themes as well. The look like intricate paintings that bring the characters to life for the reader.

Children can easily relate to David Earl since McKissack uses realistic dialogue to demonstrate the relationship between mother and son and the townspeople. His emotions, actions, and thoughts are those that most children would experience, regardless of their race, religion, or socio-economic status. I love reading this book with my 2nd grade students to kick off our personal narrative unit. It is a loving story that brings the past to the present.

[Karen GoatKeeper · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ma Dear is an African American widow with a young son. The only work she can find at the time of this story is cleaning, washing and ironing for the white people on the other side of town.
The story is about the days of the week and how she has a different apron suited for each day's tasks, different design and color. Her son David Earl tells the days of the week by the apron his mother wears.
The story is well written and reflects a time unfamiliar now. The illustrations have a hazy quality suited to setting the story as memory of this former time. It reflects social values of the time yet is never critical, only speaking of them as normal for the times.
This is a very good book to introduce young people to life and conditions of long ago.

[Luisa Knight · Rating 3 out of 5]

A sweet story about a hard working mother and her son.

Ages: 4 - 8

Cleanliness: "Oh my goodness."

**Like my reviews? I also have hundreds of detailed reports that I offer too. These reports give a complete break-down of everything in the book, so you'll know just how clean it is or isn't. I also have Clean Guides (downloadable PDFs) which enable you to clean up your book before reading it!

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[Kaitlyn Kluesner · Rating 4 out of 5]

The young boy in the story learns the days of the week by which color of apron his mom is wearing. This was a unique story about a family and what their culture does every day of the week. This can show people of all ages that other families may be different from theirs.

[Robin · Rating 3 out of 5]

A loving son knows each day of the week by the apron his mother wears as he helps he in her work. Lovely story.

[Ella Petit]

This book fits into the historical fiction category. It talks about a young African American boy who can tell what his day is going to look like based on the color of his Ma's apron.

[Anthony · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author shares a fictionalized tale of her great-grand mother and countless other domestic workers of her generation through the eyes of David Earl who tracks the days of the week by the different colors of the aprons that his mother wears, except on Sundays.

[Johna Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ma Dear’s Apron is about an African American family, a single mother and her son. This nonfiction story was dedicated to Patricia C. Missouri’s’ great-grandmother, Leanna Crossley Bowens. The main characters in the story were Ma Dear (short for mother dear) and her son David Earl (the authors dad). David always knows what day of the week it is by looking at Ma Dears’ apron. She wears a different apron to complete the different duties on different days. For instance Monday she wears a blue apron for washing and David Earl picks peach leaves for the last rinse. Tuesday she wears a bright yellow apron because she is ironing all day and the brightness of the apron gives her energy like the sun. David Earl is watching his mom perform all of the duties that mothers have. He assists Ma Dear as much as possible. Ma Dear constantly tells David Earl jr. a story that he knows by heart. It is about his father “who died fighting out West.” This is why she is a single mom. Although Ma Dear wears an apron Monday-Saturday, she never wears one on Sunday, “This is your no-work day”, said David. As a literacy teacher, I could use this story to teach the value of family. I could teach about the African American culture and what their day-to-day activities used to be like. Every child will not have both parents. Some may have deceased parents and could relate. I could also use this story to teach how people did things differently in the past.

[Jasmine Robinson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ma Dear’s Apron is about an African American family, a single mother and her son. This nonfiction story was dedicated to Patricia C. Missouri’s’ great-grandmother, Leanna Crossley Bowens. The main characters in the story were Ma Dear (short for mother dear) and her son David Earl (the authors dad). David always knows what day of the week it is by looking at Ma Dears’ apron. She wears a different apron to complete the different duties on different days. For instance Monday she wears a blue apron for washing and David Earl picks peach leaves for the last rinse. Tuesday she wears a bright yellow apron because she is ironing all day and the brightness of the apron gives her energy like the sun. David Earl is watching his mom perform all of the duties that mothers have. He assists Ma Dear as much as possible. Ma Dear constantly tells David Earl jr. a story that he knows by heart. It is about his father “who died fighting out West.” This is why she is a single mom. Although Ma Dear wears an apron Monday-Saturday, she never wears one on Sunday, “This is your no-work day.” As a literacy teacher, I could use this story to teach the value of family. I could teach about the African American culture and what their day to day activities used to be like. Every child will not have both parents. Some may have deceased parents and could relate. I could also use this story to teach how people did things differently in the past.

[Laura Mueller · Rating 4 out of 5]

Laura Mueller
April 1, 2015
EDL53500 Library Materials for Children and Youth

Title: Ma Dear's Apron

Author: Patricia C. McKissack

Plot: Ma Dear has a different apron for every day of the week, except Sunday because there's no work on Sunday. Monday it's wash day and she wears her apron with the pockets to hold all the clothespins. Tuesday is ironing day and Wednesday is laundry delivery day. Thursday is when David Earl and his mother visit and take food to the sick. On Fridays, they go into the wealthy neighborhood and clean houses. They bake apple pies on Saturday and take them to the train station and sell them to passengers. Sunday is for church so no apron is needed.

Setting: rural Alabama, early 1900's

Characters: Ma Dear, David Earl

Point-of-View: third person

Themes: hard working, loving family

Style: This story was written in sections for each day of the week. It begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, thus completing a full week detailing their lives.

Copyright: 1997

Reflection: I thought the book was a nice representation of what life was like for poor African American families and I loved how the author wrote it based on the stories her grandma told her of her great-grandmother. It was a nice tribute and really told the story of hard work and dedication to family.

[Jack · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ma Dear's Aprons written by Patricia C. McKissack and illustrated by Floyd Cooper.
Patricia McKissack's is tribute to her great-grandmother and the countless other domestic workers of her generation. David Earl observes his mother over a week in early 1900's rural Alabama, her apron change by day, their work each day, and the love between them. The illustrations help the reader respectfully observe their weekly activities, complementing and strengthening the text.
Age Range: 4 - 8 years
Grade Level: Preschool - 3
Lexile Measure: AD800L

[Rona · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fantastic book for the whole family. The message that I was left with was that our lives' goal should be about family, love and caring. Here's a very poor family that has so much. Consider sharing this book with your family after your Thanksgiving dinner. Perhaps it will become a family tradition.

[Cecoiya Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ma Dear's Apron was a book about Ma Dear and all of her aprons that she wore on different days of the week. This was great book. Ma Dear had different color aprons for everyday of the week. This would be a great book for K-3rd grade.

[Colleen]

Going Places - unit 7
Leveled Books - Advanced

[Kimberly OutspokenMom · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is wonderfully written and accurately uses the popular southern term of endearment "Ma Dear" (short for mother dear).

[Marilyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

1997 = Ma has 7 aprons - one for every day of the week. David Earl learns about hard work and how fortunate he is as he follows and helps Ma in her aprons.

1998 = Excellent story.