My Mummy is a Unicorn

My Mummy is a Unicorn by Laine Mitchell, illustrated by Kim Fleming (Scholastic) HB RRP $18.99 ISBN: 9781761204630

Reviewed by Dannielle Viera

When a child views their mother with eyes of wonder, the mum becomes a unicorn, a mermaid, a dragon and even a robot. She’s ‘a mighty queen with twenty golden rings,’ and a ballerina ‘dancing circles in the light’. Although the child knows in their heart that their mum is not really any of these things, they truly believe that ‘her magic’s still the best’.

Kids aged three to six will adore Laine Mitchell’s delightful rhyming story, and they’ll enjoy exploring all the fabulous facets of the mother’s character – some of which they’re sure to recognise in their own mum. A unique warmth emanates from the book, as imagination and love prance together across the pages.

Kim Fleming’s vibrant illustrations burst from the spreads and sweep the young reader along in a torrent of hues and movement. Joining the child on the ride is a tiny mouse – littlies will have fun seeking out this purple pal on every page. Kim presents the protagonist as a person of colour, which is a refreshingly inclusive choice.

A sparkling rainbow of rich tints and rhyming text, My Mummy is a Unicorn offers a playful and positive read-aloud experience. It is perfect for sharing, especially on Mother’s Day.

Feathers

Feathers by Karen Hendriks, illustrated by Kim Fleming (Empowering Resources) RRP PB $17.00 ISBN 9781925592214

Reviewed by Kylie Buckley

Feathers is a tender story of love, loss and grief told through the eyes of a young child. A little boy believes that feathers are precious dream catchers. He trusts this belief because his late mother told him so. ‘Feathers help you capture good dreams and keep the bad ones away.’ When the young boy sees feathers floating gracefully above in the wind, he tries to catch one to ensure his dreams come true.

The soothing and gentle narrative is complemented by the soft colour palette of the pencil and watercolour illustrations. This book beautifully demonstrates the concept that symbols (such as feathers and stars) can be used to carry special meaning and bring comfort in times of sadness.

Feathers is a picture book suitable for children aged 3-8 years, particularly those who are mourning the loss of someone dear to them.

 

Mummy, You're Special to Me

Mummy, You're Special to Me by Laine Mitchell, illustrated by Kim Fleming (Scholastic Australia)

HB RRP $16.99

ISBN 978-1-74283- 981-3

Reviewed by Jenny Heslop

Mummy, You're Special To Me is a sweet picture book celebrating the strengths and skills of mothers and their special relationships with their children.

Told in verse, the story begins and ends with baby giraffe and his mother. In between, a range of other animals enjoy time with their mums. Turtle Mummy builds excellent sand castles and knows about waves. Monkey Mummy paints pictures and climbs trees and Mummy Kangaroo tucks Joey in tight and tells stories just right.

The illustrations glow. They are lively and luminous. They exude the happiness and light playful atmosphere portrayed in the text. The animals are sweet and in their own environments and if you look closely you will see that Baby Giraffe follows the story too, appearing in the background every page.

While the text is a little awkward to read in places (words forced to make the rhyme work) the comfortable, cosy mother/child relationships portrayed make this easy to overlook. The refrain Mummy, you're special to me is used every page and this repetition adds even more rhythm to the story. Also the skills these mothers possess are relatable for young children - story telling, kindness, jokes, wisdom, encouragement and humour to name a few.

With it's beautiful illustrations and sweet sentiment, this book is a lovely one for pre-schoolers to share with family, especially Mum.