Mama Don't Allow

by Thacher Hurd

Saxophone-playing Miles and his Swamp Band find a bevy of sharp-toothed, long-tailed alligators who love to listen to their music. But little do Miles and his band know what the alligators plan for them at the close of their jubilant all-night ball! Inspired by a traditional song, this vibrant picture book is "ebullient, fast-paced, and funny." 1985 Boston Globe–Horn Book Award for Illustration
A Reading Rainbow Featured Selection
Children's Books of 1984 (Library of Congress)

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Music, Fiction, Animals, Storytime, Young Readers

40 pages, Paperback

First published September 25, 1984

About the author

Thacher grew up in a family of children's book artists, and after attending the California College of Arts and Crafts, he began to turn his talent to picture books. He is the award-winning author of Mama Don't Allow, Art Dog, and most recently Moo Cow Kaboom! He has also written two board books, Cat's Pajamas and Zoom City. Thacher and his wife, Olivia, live in Berkeley, California.

from Author Page

Reviews

[Ronyell · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Mama Don’t Allow” is a jazzy book from the mind of Thacher Hurd, which is about how Miles and his Swamp band try to outwit a band of alligators that want them for dinner. “Mama Don’t Allow” is a great book full of good lyrics that children will enjoy for many years.

Thacher Hurd has done a great job at both illustrating and writing this book. Thacher Hurd’s illustrations are colorful and beautiful, especially of the image of the swamp band going to the swamp and the alligators’ riverboat, which is extremely beautiful and colorful to look at. Thacher Hurd’s writing is extremely creative as he explains Miles’ situation with his mother through a song that is extremely jazzy to listen to and the lyrics to the song “Mama Don’t Allow” is creative and bold as Miles states in the song that he will keep on playing his saxophone no matter what his mother says.


“Mama Don’t Allow” is a great book for children who love to sing to various songs and the song will keep their feet stomping to the beat for as many times as they read this book. I would recommend this book to children ages five and up due to scenes where the alligators wanted to eat the swamp band, which might worry smaller children.

Song Number:

“Mama Don’t Allow no music playing around here!
Mama Don’t Allow no music playing around here!
Now, we don’t care what Mama don’t allow,
We’re gonna play that music anyhow!”

Review is also on: Rabbit Ears Book Blog

[Dolly · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've only seen a few episodes of The Reading Rainbow with our girls and now that the series is off the air, I am sad that they missed out on some of the stories, like this one. We picked this one out at the library because of it's vibrant colors and interesting cover illustration.

The story was entertaining, with a somewhat surprising sinister undertone at the end. It's a fun book to read aloud, especially if you can exaggerate the awful noise the beginner band makes.

This book was selected as one of the books for the May 2018 - Boston Globe-Horn Book Picture Book Award Winners 1983-1990 discussion at the Picture-Book Club in the Children's Books Group here at Goodreads.

[Beverly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book, while a story, is based on a traditional American folk song, but it is not only the lyrics of the song. Miles gets a saxophone for his birthday, but his practicing is not appreciated by family or neighbors. He joins up with a band that is invited to play for the Alligator Ball. That is where the folk song comes in. When the members of the band discover that they are on the menu for the alligators' dinners, they have to employ some quick thinking to make their escape. The very colorful, mixed media illustrations are a good fit for the story.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

How did I miss this book when it was published?

Fun story, great bright-colored illustrations, perfect page turns and the theme of music combine in a book I can read out loud multiple times in one sitting. Simple vocabulary combined with picture clues make this book an excellent book for beginning readers.

[Jennifer (JenIsNotaBookSnob) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maybe I was just in a sour mood when I read this. I remember liking this book when I saw it on Reading Rainbow. I think rather than reading the book to my daughter, I will try to find the old episode because I think it is better performed than just read.

This is loosely based around the traditional song "Mama Don't Allow" which you can find online performed by someone named Doc Watson.

[Blake Ruplinger · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book tells the story of Miles a hedgehog who gets a saxophone, but his parents do not like him playing it and have him practice outside. Where everyone by his house hated his playing until, he meets other animals playing music and embrace his saxophone playing. Still everyone in the town hated their music except for the alligators. The alligators were planning on eating swamp band, but they played a lullaby which got them home safe and Miles parents finally enjoyed his music.
This is an interesting book teaching children to still do what they love even if their parents or peers are telling them they are bad. Though it may seem like they do not have anyone, they can find their swamp band like Miles did. The illustrations were very exciting, and the text made the story relatable. I think this is a fun way to teach children to stay confident in what they do and to not give up because people are telling you to. By reading this to a classroom, it can be a good way to encourage students to get involved with different activities that they want to do for themselves. Some themes were being yourself and doing what makes you happy.

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you're like me, this one will bring back a particular memory: Reading Rainbow. Mama Don't Allow is just one of many titles that I was introduced to on the children's program Reading Rainbow. When I was first inspired to have a jazz week, I knew I'd have to track down a copy of this book. And I was pleased to see there is a 25th Anniversary edition of the book available from HarperCollins! I hadn't realized it'd gotten that old. (Not how I didn't say I'd gotten that old.)

This book is about a little boy, Miles, who loves to play his saxophone. Only one problem: his mother doesn't like to hear him play his music. And she's not alone. It seems that almost everyone wants him to take his music somewhere else, someplace else, far, far away. Where does a boy have to go to be appreciated? If you're Miles, then you'll have to trek your way down to the swamp. Miles and his swamp band are a BIG hit. And I bet that you can guess WHO wants them to spend lots of time in the swamp--making music. The alligators. They love his music--his loud and jazzy music. But is there an ulterior motive?

[Kayla · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the story of a young alligator who receives a saxophone as a gift but is banned by his mother from playing it in the house. He ends up joining a swamp band and playing a song called "Mama Don't Allow." This book could be used in a classroom as a creative music and art activity. The students can listen to the song that the swamp band played and create their own instruments. They can then get into groups, change one of the lyrics to the song, and play that part of the song in front of the class.

[Ryan Vignetti · Rating 3 out of 5]

ELAGSEKRL1 With prompting and support, ask and answer questions about key
details in a text.

This is a fun book that we talked about in class. It touches on jazz music, but it is mostly read to have a good time. It is a good book to introduce some music into the classroom.

The students will be read the book in class. They will then be taught the song that goes with the book. They can use instruments provided by the teacher to use while singing. They will then read the book again as a class and sing when it calls for it.

[Benjamin Elliott · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book tells the story of some kids who have just gotten instruments so they're not very good. The townspeople don't enjoy their practicing and drive them down to the swamp where the alligators seem to enjoy them a bit too much. In the end all is well, and they even seem to have improved their playing skills.
The illustrations do a good job of imparting a swampy feel to the setting.
The middle section is built around the traditional song "Mama Don't Allow," which I wasn't familiar with, but it is included in the back.

[Amy · Rating 2 out of 5]

For Reading Rainbow: "Mama Don't Allow"
Bea didn't really love this book. She couldn't get past how ugly she thought the possums were drawn. (We thought they were people at first and finding out they were possums (without tails or ears) didn't help.) The theme didn't really resonate with her either.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is full of vivid imagery, bright colors and quirky characters. It's all about a dedication and love for music. When the characters are playing music, musical notes decorate the page as a clue for readers. The main character Miles keeps practicing his Saxophone, even when some folks don't like it. Eventually he learns to adapt by playing more softly.

[Amy Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Miles and his friends make up a Swamp Band. No one wants to hear their music except for the alligators in the swamp. But when they are done playing, the alligators are hungry and the swamp band has to think fast to get themselves out of trouble!

[Kristin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book could be used to introduce students to animals in the swamp, maybe even a transition piece for ecosystems. It depicts the different animals that live in the swamp, it could work. It's a way to make your lessons more cross curricular.

[Denise Kettering · Rating 4 out of 5]

Living in Louisiana, this book is a lot of fun to read to our son as it combines the swampy terrain that we live in and the music that is popular here. The illustrations are bright and vibrant. I also have fond memories of this book from Reading Rainbow as a child.

[Betsy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sometimes I read a book as a grown-up and think that I really need to read it to my children before reviewing it. My grown-up self is getting in the way. This is a fun story, but not remarkable. Great jazz connection and/or Bayou/LA connection!

[Allison]

This is a fun book that I might use while studying how creatures are portrayed in picture books. Also, there is a song in the back of the book, which would be really fun to sing with kids! Finally, I have not read too many picture books yet about music making.

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

I hadn't even started reading and the illustrations had me smiling! I have to admit, I fell for the alligators' little charade, but was very relieved at the ingenuity of the Swamp Band.

Very fun and engaging read-aloud. Would be the greatest if the reader is willing to sing along with the band!

[Steph · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kids love to worry about little guys in the face of "big, bad" crocodiles. I actually had a little girl cover her eyes during the read aloud. It's adorable to watch how enthusiastically children respond to this picture book.

[LibAssistantSWFL · Rating 4 out of 5]

Miles plays his saxophone all of the time and got a group of others to make a band. The alligators likes listening to swamp band music unlike Miles mother in this feel-good and colorful picture book. At the end of the book there is lyrics and music to "Mama Don't Allow" song.

[jacky · Rating 3 out of 5]

I sooo remember this from Reading Rainbow! I really strongly remember the way the book was set to music in the episode and the phrase, "swamp bands play in the swamp."

[Ellen]

Grammatically incorrect but adorable! As seen on "Reading Rainbow."

[Monica · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's never too early to boogie.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

From back in tha day.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book to read aloud,and sing too!

[Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Miles got a saxphone, decided to start a band, of course the only ones who appreciated his music were the alligators. Be careful when an alligator appreciates you.

[Mommalibrarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

wonderful illustrations - bebopping alligators

[Wakana · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the beginning, I was not too much impressed with this story (I prefer "Art Dog" by the same auther) , but my son liked it and asked me to read again.

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

cute story and one we can read again and again and again!!

[Tyler Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun story about how fun it is to play music, even when there are a bunch of alligators trying to eat you.