Mommy! Mommy!

干支セトラ絵本

by Taro Gomi

“The story’s gentle surprises are sure to delight, as will the birds’ happy reunion.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review)   Toddlers and beginning readers will love joining in on the quest for a missing mother chicken in this sweet book by the beloved, award-winning author and illustrator that shows how appearances can be deceiving . . .   “Two little chicks play hide-and-seek with their mother. But though they find her easily enough on their first two tries, the game becomes more difficult; the shape of the comb on top of the hen’s head turns out to be very like the petals of a flowering tree, the fur of a growling dog, and the rays of the rising sun . . . There’s a nice balance of predictability and surprise in Gomi’s narrative that should appeal to preschoolers.” —The New York Times

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Animals, Fiction, Family, Japan

22 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 19, 2013

About the author

Taro Gomi (五味太郎) is a major children’s illustrator and writer. He has more than 400 book titles to his credit. His work has been widely translated into 15 other languages.


Tarō was born in Tokyo and he graduated from ID department, Kuwazawa Design Institute. His readers range from babies to adults, with an equal number of fans overseas. His work has been appreciated considerably with both domestic and international honours such as the Sankei Jido Shuppan Bunka Award, Bologna Children's Book Fair Award among others.


Along with authoring children's books, he is well-known in the fields of Stationery design, clothing design, production of young children's animated videos, CD-ROMs, essays etc.


His popular books published in English include Everyone Poops, Santa Through the Window, Where's the Fish?, My Friends and The Crocodile and the Dentist.

Reviews

[Dani ❤️ Perspective of a Writer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Check out more Picture book reviews @ Perspective of a Writer...

Two chicks look for mommy until they find her.

I got this book digitally for my nephew. We have been enjoying these read-along books for a couple weeks now. I just assumed a book they made a narration of was for at least a 4-6 year old, so I admit I didn't look at the ages. So when we played this book we were both shocked! He looked at me and giggled at how short and sweet it was. Not many words past mommy were even used.

We both loved the drawings, my nephew is a budding artist who draws a spread from each book we read and he loved being able to draw such a fanciful picture yet it not being multi-layered so much he couldn't follow it. They were cute and in line with the purpose of the book...

Which I didn't realize until I read another reviewers review who talked about her 1-1/2 year old granddaughter! First she explained about separation anxiety in little children (this was cute in regards to this!) It makes a lot more sense, being for readers who really can't read yet but to get the feeling of being successful this is a perfect book. I don't appreciate a narrated board book though, there is no need for that hence my rating.

BOTTOM LINE: A cute separation anxiety board book.

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You can find this review and many others on my book blog @ Perspective of a Writer. See my picture book reviews in a special feature called Boo's Picture Gallery...

[Reading_ Tamishly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hahahhahaha!!!! What was that??! Maybe I will understand when I become a mommy. 😅

[La Coccinelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's difficult to say what will tickle a reader's fancy. This book, I'm sure, has its fans. But I would bet that they're probably all under the age of three.

The thin plot consists of two chicks yelling for their mom. She appears a couple of times, and then each time the chicks think they see her comb, they're actually mistaken. Eventually, they find her and she tells them it's time to go home. That's literally the entire story.

I might've viewed this one more favourably if I'd liked the illustrations. But I didn't. They're bright and colourful, but they're also too simple for my taste. I don't see what's so special about them.

This author/illustrator is supposedly famous, but I'd never heard of him. I don't think I'll be seeking out any more of his work, either, based on what I saw here.

[Ame · Rating 4 out of 5]

The key is to go “Mommy Mommy Mommy Mommy!!!” with a high pitched panicky voice. Sure kept my kids invested!

[Bonnie Ferrante · Rating 5 out of 5]

It isn’t very often that my one and a half-year-old granddaughter latches onto a book as strongly as she did this one. I suspect she instantly identified with the two little chicks who were looking for their mommy. Whenever mommy goes away, chicks and toddlers are concerned.

The story is simple but suspenseful. The first page shows two little chicks by a fence calling, “Mommy! Mommy!” The second page shows the hen appearing and saying, “here I am!” The story continues on this theme with mommy being trickier to find. At one point they mistake the top of a flower behind a hedge for her red crown. On another, they mistake a fox behind rocks for their mother. In the end, they find mother on the barn roof and she tells them it’s time to go home.

It is a short board book. The pictures are ultra simple blobs with big eyes that somehow still convey emotion. It took a while to figure out the bumpy blotch with teeth was a fox. However, I like books with uncomplicated illustrations. They help to build the confidence of budding little artists.

The story is humorous, surprising, and engaging. Every child wants the chicks to find their mother and be safe from the fox. After the third reading, my one and a half-year-old granddaughter began “reading” the book with me. It isn’t easy finding fun books that will hold the attention of the youngest reader. I loved this book.

BonnieFerrante.ca

[LaSchelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

18 month old Godson loved this from the second we read it to him. I think I read it 7 or 8 times once I started. Each time, he wants it read over and over. I love his belly laugh on the page with what I tough was a monster but is probably a dog.

[Vijetha Palathoti · Rating 4 out of 5]

My 2 year old niece's favorite type of picture books is one with a familial bond. More specifically something with an "amma-papa" setup.

This silly book - she's going to love. I also know that she's going to call the chicks and their mom as food (aam aam) and would want to eat them.

[Cara Byrne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not my favorite, but the illustrations and simple text caught my daughter's attention.

[Eric Hinkle · Rating 2 out of 5]

Perhaps I need to read it with a kid. Having read three classic Taro Gomi books, I was dumbfounded at the end of this one.

That's it?!

[Robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great for really little ones. It’s simple, but my son (13 months) loves it.

[Steve · Rating 5 out of 5]

She loves this one. I'm sure she can identify with looking for her mother.

[Molly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute! :)

[Anxious Bibliophile Jacqueline · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have no idea why, but my 1yo daughter's favorite book and she kisses the sun at the end every time.

[Marsha Valance · Rating 4 out of 5]

Readers follow 2 chicks on a search through the barnyard for their mother hen.

[Dytodo Vox · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rounded up from 3.5. Enjoyed the suspense of the little chickies search for their mommy but the resolution wasn't very satisfying, I thought it ended abruptly. It was good indeed.

[Andrés · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun with pattern recognition and disruption. I wish the denouement was more clever / exciting than "time to go home."

[Liese · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been looking for books for the baby / early toddler age and this is a great one! It's a sweet colorful looking-for-mommy book, which is great for the separation anxiety age.

[Terry]

Family 1: We read this book one time because my children did not want to read it again. I did not like this book. The poor chicks could not find their mom and instead encountered a scary-looking dog. This was not enjoyable to read all the way through.

Family 2: The book is well sized for little hands and the story is simple enough that kids can create their own adventure from what is happening.

Read our full review and add yours at the Reading Tub.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Little ones are often looking for their mothers. In this board book two chicks keep searching for their mother, but sometimes when they find what they think is their mother, it turns out to be something else. The fact that Mommy is always somewhere is reassuring as the chicks explore a bit, but they never venture too far. The repeated lines and warm tones of the barnyard scenes make this one an excellent read aloud to share with little ones.

[C · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Child Loves This Book

My Child Loves This Book

This is perfect for my 2-year-old. She particularly seems to enjoy that she can "read" it about as well as I can.

[Brynna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Taro Gomi so I tried this book from the library and have now purchased it several times! Very young children (18 mos + or so) really love this book and the simple story of babies looking for their mom.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

My 14 month old loves Taro Gomi's illustration style. She flips through his books often on her own. The text is short and simple so she can read along with me on this one saying "mama, mama". I didn't think much of the book in the store, but I'm now really glad we own a copy.

[Dawn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Joel loves this one.

[Peacegal · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mother hens and chicks have an incredible bond. Very cute illustrations and simple text illustrate this.

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Charming and simple board book. A new favorite.

[Julia · Rating 3 out of 5]

The recurring 'oops' makes my kiddo giggle every time.

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

love this book for toddlers because they can relate emotionally to the story conflict: where is mommy? My daughters want to hear this one over and over.

[Natasha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Better as an early reader than a board book to read aloud to a young toddler or baby.

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

so incredibly simple, and my toddlers love it