The Fun Book for Moms: 102 Ways to Celebrate Family

by Melina Gerosa Bellows

There are 80.5 million women of all ages answering to the moniker "Mom," according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

* After writing The Fun Book for Couples , which incidentally was the best-selling Valentine's Day book for two of the nation's largest book chains, Melina Gerosa Bellows returns with a tribute to everyone's leading lady.

In addition to Mother's Day, there are more than four million births each year. The Fun Book for Moms is tailored especially to commemorate such occasions.

Ideas range from fun and free to indulgent and lavish and are accompanied by whimsical artwork, quotes, and recipes certain to captivate Mom's eye and entertain her

* Help your kids catch fireflies. Teach them kindness by letting them go.

* "It goes without saying that you should never have more children than you have car windows." --Erma Bombeck

* Fly first-class while your husband and kids fly coach. When you hear howls from the rear of the craft, pretend you don't know them.

* "The real menace in dealing with a five-year-old is that in no time at all you begin to sound like a five-year-old." --Jean Kerr 

128 pages, Hardcover

First published February 1, 2007

Reviews

[Trixy Lemell · Rating 1 out of 5]

I got this book at a thrift store. It was marked as a dollar but, I got it in a bag sale and was struggling to find books I wanted to toss in the bag. The cover is so pretty! Oh, it's a hardback too! Aww, a book for moms and family! How could I go wrong?

Well, I somehow managed. The drawings are simple and cute and many of the quotes are nice. Yet, it still fails for me. The author is witty at times but, it still didn't win me over. I think only one of these activities was for boys and that would be the one about taking your son on a test drive of a fancy car. Everything else is geared towards girls and involves getting your nails done, shopping, and tea parties. Plus, much, much more girly stuff that excludes any mother with a son.

And I'm not saying that boys can't have tea parties or go shoe shopping, I'm just saying that the author and artist make it clear that girls do this and boys do that and this book is really about what we do with girls. Things that both boys and girls can do were normally said as "your children". So, take your children on a bug hunt, would be an example.

This book originally runs for almost 13 bucks and not only is it a 10-minute read but, you can find better ideas on Pinterest. Many ideas are so overdone and common that they are nothing new. Yes, let your child play with your hair and pretend to be at a beauty parlor. Sorry, let me correct that-Let your daughter play with your hair... And of course, water balloon fights, chalk drawings, going to the library. Really? 13 bucks to suggest a trip to the library?

I thought about giving it 2 stars based on the quotes and the images. Then again, they aren't even the authors quotes so why give her credit for taking another's words?

But the pictures are sooooo cute!

[Trish · Rating 3 out of 5]

My mother-in-law just gave me this for mother's day. It's a quick, fun read. There's always room for more fun in the day and I can't wait to read all of the author's ideas.

[Corrie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think I am not a fun mom by nature, I have to work at it. Sad, but true. This book would be great for someone with younger kids. Anyone have suggestions for fun things to do with teens and tweens?

[Suzi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a cute book that helps you think outside the box a little.