Nick Bland, Some Mums, Scholastic, 1 April 2015, $16.99 (hbk), 24pp., ISBN 9781743626047
A follow up to Some Dads, Nick Bland (The Very Cranky Bear) takes us through a charmingly anthropomorphized sequence of animal mothers who are busy showing their offspring some of the things they do best – skating, flying, being strong and fearless, being kind and caring, being noticeable and just being there. The rhyming verse is seamlessly in pace with the actions of the animals, slowing and varying to match the peaceful and then energetic compositions of different families. The painterly style has great tonal and palette sensitivity and manages to present the readers with lots of different places and situations in a believable manner. My favourite spread shows a mummy owl reading to her un-hatched chicks in their nest, reminding us that our mothers care for us even before we are born. Gentle humour in the unspoken inferences between text and image conveys the message that “a day spent with mum is a wonderful day“. Suitable for pre-school children and their carers.
reviewed by Liz Anelli