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CM . . . . Volume XXIII Number 10 . . . . November 11, 2016
excerpt:
As a mother helps prepare her child for bed, she also helps prepare her little one for the fact that she will be away from her. With charming rhyming couplets, a counting game ensues, but one full of love terms that help to reassure her child that she will always be there for her. As the child prepares for bedtime, with picking up toys, having a bath, putting on pyjamas and reading books, the counting game continues to the number 10, and then they can "Go back and start at one again." It becomes a game that never has to end. Both the mother and the exuberant youngster are seen enjoying these bedtime rituals. Most parents agree that creating a familiar pattern at bedtime can be very effective in transitioning a little one to accept bedtime. But it can also provide reassurance when plans have to change, No indication is given regarding why or how long this mother will be separated from the child. But what seems to matter is the comfort provided by the familiar counting game and the fact that the two participants cherish the routine. The effective repetition of the rhyme will have little ones memorizing the delightful poem in no time. The softly hued, yet expressive, illustrations complement the text. In my opinion, there can never enough books that express love between a child and a parent. This is especially important if a parent needs to be away. Recommended. Reesa Cohen is a retired Instructor of Children's Literature and Information Literacy at the Faculty of Education, University of Manitoba in Winnipeg, MB.
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