Mommy Doesn't Know My Name - Hardcover

Andrew Shachat and Peter Armour both live and work in California.

PreSchool-Grade 2-- Mommy is always lovingly comparing her Hannah to various animals. During a silly dance, it's " 'You funny monkey' "; or, maybe " 'See you later, alligator,' " or, at bedtime " 'Be a quiet little mouse.' " Each time, the little girl imagines herself as that animal. Then, with pride and firmness, she announces, " 'I'm not a mouse. I'm Hannah!' " Text and illustrations resonate with the strength of preschoolers' needs to understand and assert their own identities. A lovely resolution is provided on the final page: with the warmest hug, Mommy confirms, " 'Yes, I know. You're Hannah. My very own happy little, funny little girl.' " The pastel illustrations take Williams' idea, give it form, and then magnify it several decibels. Shachat's style, that adults may recognize from Psychology Today and New York Times Book Review , is offbeat--definitely kooky, but not too strange for children's comfort. It's the weirdness of the art, making anything possible in it, that will transform the words to meaning for many young readers. And this is accomplished with the kind of flair that leaves listeners feeling that something special's happened to them. It's a fun, crazy book that works extremely well. --Liza Bliss, Worcester Public Library, MA
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