My Mama

I’ve known my mama for such a long time. For my whole life, actually.
My mama loves playing with me and my cars. I like that, as long as mama tidies up the cars afterwards.
I’m good at hiding. No one can find me, not even my mama ... and then suddenly I shout, “PEEKABOO!” My mama’s scared to death! I laugh
and laugh.
At night, my mama shakes the stars off my pants. I give her a big hug and say. “Goodnight stars, see you tomorrow!”
A cheeky elephant tells all about his mother in this lovingly drawn story. Both parents and children will delight in and recognize this gorgeous mother–child relationship—if not for the same reasons.

"Once in a while a picture story book comes along that touches my heart. My Mama is one such book. It is so delightful and innocent in its telling."

-- Wondrous Words

"Highly recommended. Children will laugh loudly at the little elephant thinking her is helping Mama when it is really the other way around. Their life together is full of love, companionship and laughs, although now and again she has to tell him at length about what he has done wrong.
The story reflects a universal mother son relationship, and the wonderful sparse illustrations magnify the already large pair of animals.
Reflecting the striving of all children to be allowed more freedom, the story pokes gentle fun at the child who thinks he is ready to leave home and fly, when really he does what he does because Mama is there right by his side."

-- ReadPlus

"This is an amusing tale of a baby elephant’s everyday adventures with his long-suffering mother. Written with half an eye as to what mothers endure when entertaining their children, the story conveys children’s imaginations – and their certainty that they control the world most of the time. There is little text per page and the illustrations are fun, capturing both mother’s and baby’s personalities."

-- The Children’s Book Council of Australia Reading Time

"The book is bound to generate lots of discussion between reader and listener as they share the story and talk about the relationship between the elephants, and about all their various activities. There are intriguing details to find in the bold pictures, including spotting the starry endpapers…"

-- Books for Keeps

"This is a heartwarming read – the illustrations are divine – perfect when you need a feel-good book."

-- NZ Poetry Box – Paula Green

"This playful offering explores, through two elephant characters, the strong emotional bond between parent and child."

-- The Horn Book

"A simple story of a mother/child relationship with gorgeous expressive pen and ink and watercolour illustrations that complement the chatty humour of the narrator."

-- Outside in World

"Gently humorous and super sweet, but never sentimental, this is perfect for sharing with little humans."

-- Red Reading Hub

"A gently unfurling story of the bond between mother and child #mymama by #annemarievanhaeringen has a sensitively written narrative which will resonate with parents everywhere."

-- Picture Books Blogger

"This story is a joy to read. It brings a smile to your face as you follow the antics of the young elephant. So often, the mother-child relationship is shown in books through the eyes of the adult, but in this case, each page feels like the child has written it. This is a real credit to the author and also to the translator Bill Nagelkerke. The illustrations pop out against the white background, and though they are minimal in style, they portray the story well. There’s no doubt this book would become a firm favourite if placed in a class library."

-- Just Imagine

"A delicate, simple and very touching story of the love between a mother and a child that will resonate with all its readers as children follow the pictures and adults follow the words."

-- Armadillo

"Readers will enjoy the perspective of the calf, but even more, they’ll like to be in on jokes the earnest narrator misses: The child likes “watering the plants” (a little urination joke) but notices that “when I do, it always starts to rain”—Mama stands behind with a watering can."

-- Kirkus Reviews

"A playful young elephant wearing star-covered trousers reflects on his beloved mother in this meandering tribute."

Publishers Weekly

"A little elephant describes all the ways that his mama takes care of him, from playing to watering plants to explaining why she is angry with him. The interactions are sweet and realistic, despite the characters being elephants, until the end, when the mama shakes the stars off the baby’s pants as she’s putting him to bed. The stars then revolve around his head in the night sky. Even though the title is My Mama, it’s clear that the story is about the little one and his relationship with his mom. The gentle humor, such as when the baby is watering plants with his pee, and his mother is watering his head, will tickle young kids who recognize their own loving parents. Sweet minimalist illustrations focus on the mother and child."

-- Stephanie Tournas, Youth Services Book Reviews

Annemarie van Haeringen was born in 1959 and has illustrated many children’s books. She has won the top Dutch prize for illustrators three times.

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