Mama's Milk
by Michael Elsohn Ross
Illustrated by Ashley Wolff
When it's time to nurse, it is only natural for babies to cuddle up to their mamas. And mammal mamas know that mama's milk is best for baby.
Tender illustrations and a soothing bedtime rhyme celebrate breastfeeding and the bonding that is so important to little ones--and bigger ones, too.
"Can I just say that this is a book that I will buy for any breastfeeding mom that I know is pregnant with a second, third, fourth, etc... child? It's that good. The book features one line of rhyme per page to tell the story of all the ways that moms love their breastfeeding babies. It shows babies nursing while mom sleeps, babies nursing in the park, a foal nursing in a field, a coyote nursing her young, even a shot of both a dolphin and a whale nursing their offspring while swimming in the ocean.
The pictures are beautifully painted water colors and the back of the book features a great little collection of all the images with interesting facts about the animals. (Kangaroo milk is pink, elephants nurse for 2 to 4 years, etc...) While the pages are paper, it is a hardback book which helps make it a little more sturdy.
Elnora often asks for this book when I'm putting her to bed and she loves to point out the nursing babies, the moms and all of the animals. She especially love the image of the nursing piglets and the nursing foal on the farm and it's been a real joy to be able to share a book with her that shows great images of animals (and babies) nursing in their natural environments".
–The Lactivist Blog
March 2007
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PreS-Gr 1-"From humans to a variety of aquatic and land animals, Ross's rhyming text describes the different ways that mothers nurse their babies. Presented across spreads or on single pages framed by white borders, the pastel-infused watercolor illustrations tastefully depict the nursing pairs. Each species is identified along with the proper nomenclature for its offspring (monkey and infant, bat and pup, whale and calf). Short factual statements about the highlighted animals are appended-kangaroos have pink milk; elephant calves nurse for two to five years; bear cubs drink from hibernating mothers; human milk helps protect babies from disease. This cozy offering will be welcomed by parents who want to share the joy and naturalness of breastfeeding with their children".
–Marge Loch-Wouters
Menasha Public Library, WI
School Library Journal
May 2007
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"There's nothing more natural than a baby nursing from its mother, and this theme serves as the inspiration for a moving tale that celebrates the miracle of breastfeeding. Ross' story is simplistic in tone, comprised of short, rhyming verse that introduces readers to the many animals that share this form of nourishment with humans. ("Mama's going to nurse you high up in a tree. Mama's going to nurse you down low by her knees.") The text's gentle rhythm and softly rendered images aptly capture the quietness of a nursing babe, content to suckle amidst a bustling world. One of these more fitting spreads features a mother breastfeeding at a park as another picnics nearby, while on the facing page, another woman spoon-feeds a toddler seated in a stroller, children happily swinging and sliding in the foreground. The various images of animals and their babes-identification of their different names peppered throughout-are especially cozy. No matter the varying styles of feeding, one common denominator exists: a mother's milk sustains and nurtures her child. A final spread explains how long various animals nurse, as well as the benefits of breastfeeding. An ode to all things maternal."
Ages 6 mos.-3 yrs.
–Publisher's Weekly
April 2007 |
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Baby Bear ISN'T Hungry
Illustrated by Consie Powell
Check out Michael’s Newest Book.
Baby Bear is a very curious cub. Mama bear eats and eats after sleeping all winter, but Baby Bear is having too much fun exploring and playing to want a meal. What will Baby Bear discover? Will she ever be hungry?
Consie Powell’s charming artwork illustrates this sweet story of a new cub in Yosemite National Park.
For ages 1-7
Yosemite Association
(Books>Children's Books>pg. 2)
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What's the Matter in Mr. Whisker's Room? Illustrated by Paul Meisel
Mr. Whiskers, the teacher, has that wild look in his eye again. That's the look that means, Get ready for hands-on science fun and some BIG IDEAS! This time the subject matter is . . . matter. Using seven science stations, Mr. Whiskers encourages the kids in his class to use all their senses to make observations and draw conclusions. Martin, Cory, and Miguel are dabbling with water at one science station, while Larry and Ashley are up to their elbows in gloop at another. Ice blocks, rocks, and mud offer more chances to have fun and learn too! Everyone's a scientist in Mr. Whiskers' class, where hands-on mini-experiments lead to Big Ideas -- and promote an ongoing passion for independent, open-ended discovery.
What¹s the Big Idea? Kids figure it out for themselves by taking matter into their own hands in a series of fun explorations that make science discoveries as simple as child's play.
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Snug
As A Bug
From
goodnight kisses, the simple cozy text celebrates the special
bedtime rituals that are so beloved by both parent and child.
The spectacular paintings–overflowing with the detail
that has become the hallmark of Sylvia Long’s best-selling
books–bring the magical world brilliantly to life.
With its colorful butterflies, cozy caterpillars and dreamy
ladybugs–all in their cutest pajamas–this is a
book that readers will want to snuggle up with again and
again.
See
a page from Snug As A Bug
Go ahead–see another one
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Salvador
Dali and the Surrealists:
Their Lives and Ideas:
21 Activities
Grade
6 and Up–"This visually stunning work enhances the body
of material on the artist and his contemporaries. Eminently
readable, the crisply written text is detailed and thorough,
including pronunciations of many place and personal names.
Dalí's life is presented familiarly, drawing in many
details of life as an artist during that period in Europe
and the relationships among the surrealists. No actual dialogue
is included, but conclusions are drawn about Dalí's
thoughts from historical evidence. Sidebars cover other
artists (Miró, Eluard, Picasso), styles (Cubism,
Abstract Expressionism, Pop Art), and elements of history
(the Spanish Civil War, Fascism and Franco, Communism).
The attractive layout includes numerous excellent-quality
reproductions of the work of Dalí and many of the
other artists mentioned in the text, and period photographs.
Of particular interest here are the 21 activities that will
engage budding artists and encourage them to think and to
look at familiar objects in a different way. Requiring no
unusual supplies, they might be used by classroom teachers
as well. There are rich potentials for jumps from here to
history and the "'20s in Europe" art era. A valuable
addition to any collection."
–Cris
Riedel
Ellis B. Hyde Elementary School
Dansville, NY 12/8/2003
To
Order Click Here
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What’s the Matter in Mr. Whiskers' Head?
My Christmas surprise in 2004 was hearing the news from my physician, Dr. Gallery, that I had a brain tumor. Just before Christmas I had a very bad, bad, headache. Dr. Gallery suggested I have my head examined using a fancy x-ray like machine called an MRI. The test showed I had a tumor that was pushing down on my brain. It had to go and was removed on January 5th by a team of surgeons at Stanford Hospital. Beside the surgery, I also got a haircut that made me look like Bozo the Clown.
A week after I got back to the mountains, I found a gift on my porch. It was a book called What’s the Matter in Mr. Whisker’s Head? It’s so good I laughed and I cried and I decided to put it on my website for all of you to read. It showed me once again that kids are very smart and sometimes with just a little bit of help from adults can do really great things. They had a lot of fun writing the book. It was a lot more fun than doing a test or worksheet. And they learned a whole lot more, too. I’m sure you can see that!
The note below was written by my friend of many years, Allison Bown, who has taught K/1 or K/2 combo classes in our little school in El Portal since the late early 90’s. Together we have had grand times discovering how much children can learn, especially about science, when adults just let them explore in a safe and supportive environment. Our experiences were the basis of both by early childhood science manual,
Sandbox Scientists, and my newest book, What’s the Matter in Mr. Whisker’s Room?
The teacher in the book is sort of like me and acts a lot like Mrs. Bown. As for the kids, they remind me of some kids who went to the El Portal School. That’s because I created characters that behave and think like the many students I’ve had fun being around at the school during the last 30 years.
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Dearest Michael,
Once again this morning you brought magic into the classroom- though of course you did not know it. I planned to have the kids simply make you “get well” cards. I explained that Michael (AKA “Mr. Whiskers) had an operation to remove something that didn’t belong in his brain. Before I knew it, they began to create ideas about what might have been in there and what it might make you do.
As I heard ideas, I realized that you needed to hear them too. If anyone would appreciate a crazy kid story about their brain tumor, it would be you. Every student passionately engaged in the following story, while I typed on the computer. I gave it structure, but every idea and event came directly from them.
It showed me how much “Mr. Whiskers” had inspired them. Even though they haven’t spent a great deal of time with you, they know that Mr. Whiskers was in the neighborhood and is a friend. I also believe that the years of your love for the children of El Portal permeates the place. I hope you’ll feel it in this story, as well as get a big smile on your face from the creativity you’ve inspired.
As for me- well, you remain one of my favorite people on this planet. I know you’ll recover quickly,
Love and Hugs,
Allison
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