Mother, Mother, I Want Another

by Maria Polushkin Robbins, Jon Goodell (Illustrator)

Just as Mrs. Mouse kisses baby mouse goodnight, he cries, “Mother, Mother, I want another!” His concerned mama rushes off to invite other mothers—Mrs. Duck, Mrs. Frog, Mrs. Pig, and Mrs. Donkey—to help put her son to bed. But baby mouse doesn’t want another mother. Will Mrs. Mouse discover what her son really wants?

A delightful comedy of errors perfect for Mother’s Day, Mother, Mother, I Want Another has been heartwarmingly re-illustrated by acclaimed artist Jon Goodell.

Genres: Picture Books, Animals, Childrens, Storytime, Family, Humor, Fiction

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1978

About the author

670
__ |a Phone call to Bradbury Press, 2/13/85 |b (Maria Robbins and Maria Polushkin is the same person; she might continue to write under both names)

670
__ |a Phone call to Alfred A. Knopf, 3/16/2004 |b Author has married and will be using the name Maria Polushkin Robbins on all her works.

LC control no.
no 98101000

Reviews

[Sharon🔮👽 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sometimes I get read to at meetings. Granted it kid’s books— but I’m counting it 😂😂

[Michael Fitzgerald · Rating 1 out of 5]

Pretty much every change in the illustrations is for the worse, when compared to the original (1978) edition. There is a poor attempt to adjust the sizes of the animals in comparison to the mice so they are more accurate - never mind that they still wear clothes, talk, use utensils, etc. We need to have the size realistic... So the only animal that actually gets to be in the same room with baby mouse is the frog mother. It's just stupid.

In the realm of "redefining the family," note how the mouse father AND the pig father AND the donkey father have been completely eliminated. Not a single adult male to be seen in this entire book. True, they didn't have much to do in the original, but how exactly does Jon Goodell think that children happen out in nature? Apparently the single mother is "natural" and the ONLY kind of family we need to depict for children nowadays.

Also note how this version includes young animals (ducks, frogs, pigs, and a donkey) that have now apparently been left on their own as their mothers go off to attend to baby mouse. In the original, only the piglets were shown - and they had a father who was left to watch them. My interpretation was that the other families had older children and that these were "veteran" mothers called in for help.

[babyhippoface · Rating 3 out of 5]

When Little Mouse responds to his mother’s good-night kiss with, “I want another, Mother,” she mistakenly believes he wants a different mother and sets out to find one. This tale, charming if a little repetetive, was originally published in 1978, and here is given new life by Oklahoma artist Jon Goodell. His winsome oil-on-canvas illustrations feature a pleasant interplay of light and dark that lends a cozy feel to the bedtime tale. Parents who share this story should also be prepared to share one kiss, and another, and another.

[Jackie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mother, Mother, I Want Another brings some humor to bedtime, as baby mouse cries for another...but, another WHAT ?. Mrs. Mouse mistakenly believes baby mouse wants another mother. Baby mouse wants what all little children want...another kiss goodnight.

This picture book sneakily introduces just how important those pesky punctuation marks can be! Beautiful, colorful illustrations capture animal facial expressions with delightful joy.

Use for 11/2009 Family Jammie Storytime.

[Guadalupe Ramirez · Rating 3 out of 5]

I gave this book three stars because I thought it was a little strange that Mrs. Mouse thought that baby mouse wanted another mother. However, this book seems more appropriate for young children. It has repetition, some rhyming, and I think kids would enjoy the different sounds the animals make. Children can even participate in the story by making the different animals sounds.

[Cosette · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book made my listener giggle.

[Shayla Riley · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorites stories growing up was this dear story that, my own sweet mom read to my brothers and I as kids. It was actually written in 1988, and for a long time this story was out of print but, has since been released with new illustrations since 2007, which makes my book loving heart so happy! ~No matter which version, this dear book is great in every way.~It has continued to still be one of my favorites as I have grown, that I enjoy reading to my own sweet kids, who love it as well!

In this story, dear Mrs. Mouse is putting baby mouse to bed for the night. Just as she kisses baby mouse goodnight, he cries, “Mother, Mother, I want another.”

His loving concerned mama rushes off to invite other mothers including, Mrs. Duck, Mrs. Frog, Mrs. Pig, and Mrs. Donkey, within the neighborhood, to help put her son to bed. But baby mouse doesn’t want another mother!!! Dear Mrs. Mouse will need to discover what her son really wants, hopefully sooner than later…

This is a such a heartwarming and delightful story with such charming illustrations. I love dear Mrs. Mouse’s loving heart and how she won’t stop until she has figured out what exactly her sweet baby needs. This dear story cleverly has a sweet twist, which is the sweetest! I also love how each mother animal in their own unique way, comes to help, and sings their own lullaby to sweet baby mouse. In addition, I love how the lullaby’s are well-written in rhyme, which cleverly gives insight into each animal’s characteristics. The ending in this dear story creates every feeling that a great bedtime picture book should! This classic dear story dear readers, is worth the read, anytime!!

#mothermotheriwantanother
#adelightfulchildrensbook
#greatforanyage
#maria polushkinrobbins
#jongoodell

All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

[Edward Sojuwa · Rating 4 out of 5]

The mousey in this charming story loves getting smooches by mother Mouse before going to bed. But tonight he REALLY wants one: "I want another, mother" is what he says. This is what mother heard: I WANT ANOTHER MOM! No commas, just a seeming request for a new Mommy. So mom gets with the frog mom, the donkey mom, and the ducky mom. But does little mouse want another MISS, or another KISS? The chalk drawings and cute text are quaint and fun in the great tradition of Beatrix Potter herself.
4 Stars
Mousey is gettin some kissy tonight!

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very adorable, my Mother chose this book for her elementary library to dedicate in memory of her own mother that passed on in 2012.

I do not think the little kids would understand it- but I got the importance of punctuation- he wasn't trying to say he wanted another mother as she thought!~ Just another kiss!

[Lynn Davidson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mrs. Mouse helped baby mouse get ready for bed. She tucked him into bed, read him a story, gave him a bedtime kiss, and as she was leaving baby's room he cried out, "I want another, Mother!" Mrs. Mouse was panicked and ran around to find him another mother that night. Beautifully illustrated, funny story about misunderstandings.

[Kimberly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very silly! Kids will get a kick out of the illustrations.

[Samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh I wish this one wasn't due back to the library already! We just loved this book! And we quote parts at bed time now!

[Karla · Rating 3 out of 5]

Colorful story
Sweet and worth reading once

[Tiff · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a sweet book. Mother mother I want another...another what? This is what is so delightful about the whole story. Perfect book for mothers appreciation day. Recommend for all ages!

[Kaylynn Johnsen · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Mother misunderstands baby's desire for another kiss to mean another mother all kinds of hilarity ensues.

[Pam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Children's. Mother mouse goes off to find what she thinks her child wants.

[Meredith · Rating 2 out of 5]

When Baby Mouse tells his mother, "I want another, Mother," as he is being put to bed, Mrs. Mouse brings in other mothers to sing him to sleep.

This story illustrates a comic misunderstanding.

[Alana · Rating 4 out of 5]

A silly bedtime story, but my preschooler remembered it for awhile afterwards so it made an impact.

[The Thirsty Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of my favorites when I was little and has now become my children’s go to bedtime story.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

He wants another kiss!

[Mari Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a very cute book. The illustration was beautiful!

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wasn't sure about this book when I first read it to myself, but it was a hit at storytime with both parents and kids.

[Bridget Bingham · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute little book. A funny mistake by Mother.

[Lindsay · Rating 5 out of 5]

C loves this book

[Lesley Dahlseng · Rating 5 out of 5]

As the bedtime ritual comes to a close, Mrs. Mouse gives her son a bedtime kiss. Everything has gone smoothly thus far, until Mrs. Mouse turns to leave the room. Baby mouse then begins to cry: "I want another, Mother!" Desperate to appease baby mouse's cries, Mrs. Mouse runs to fetch Mrs. Duck who attempts to calm baby mouse with a very ducky lullaby. When this doesn't work, they call on Mrs. Frog. After five mothers fail at consoling him, baby finally explains: "No more mothers! . . . I want another KISS!" Each mother kisses baby mouse goodbye. Then he is tucked cozy into bed and finally receives ANOTHER kiss from his mother.

Text Review: What a cleverly sweet twist! There is never a boring page. Each mother's lullaby is a nice addition, interspersing well-written rhyme while giving our young readers insight into each animal's characteristics. The ending creates every feeling that a great bedtime picture book should.

Illustration Review: 5+ stars.

[Deidra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Written by Maria Polushkin, illustrated by Jon Goodell. Published by Alfred A. Knopf, text copyright 1978, illustrations copyright 2005.

Grade level: 2nd

As Mrs. Mouse is putting her baby to sleep one night, she gives him a kiss. Just then he says "Mother, mother, I want another, Mother!" Poor Mrs. Mouse mistakes her son and thinks he wants a new mother. So Mrs. Mouse goes on her way to find him a new mother and brings him all sorts of moms of different kinds of animals. But each time Mrs. Mouse brings her son a new mother, he exclaims he wants another! Will Mrs. Mouse ever give her son what he wants?

This was such a heart-warming story that young readers will enjoy and laugh about.

Possible themes/units: family, love, communication

[Dolly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an adorable little story about a little mouse who can't seem to communicate with his mom. We all have those moments, and I suppose this book is as much for parents as it is for children, encouraging us to truly listen to one another. The illustrations are so cute and the story is sweet, perfect for bedtime. Our girls are just about at the age where this story is too young for them, too 'babyish,' but we enjoyed reading this book together anyway. (And I had fun giving them lots of kisses!)

[Robin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've worked in libraries for 11 years as a professional and for three years prior to that while in library school, and I spent MANY hours reading to my three sons (now grown) it's so fun when I come across a book that I recall reading with my boys. This is one of them. The very simple story about a baby mouse getting ready for sleep who says "I want another, Mother" after his mother kisses him goodnight. She misinterprets it to mean that he wants another MOTHER but, in reality, he wants another KISS! Written in 1978, the illustrations are old-fashioned yet timeless.

[Marisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great book from my childhood. It's a great way to introduce the fun/confusion that you can create with our language. The baby mouse keeps saying "mother, mother, I want another" and his poor mother tries to find her baby various new "mothers". He finally finishes by adding that what he really wants is "another kiss" to which he receives kisses from everyone before going to bed. How cute is that for a small kid!

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

New favorite of my kids since the first read after it came home from the library. This has changed the way the boys ask for kisses and given us all a little inside joke. I will be checking this one out again and again and looking for it at my book swap.

Its short and simple, a bit silly (why would the mommy interpret the boys words that way), but really just a cute and fun book.

(My boys are 2 and 4.)