The Pocket Mommy

PreS-K—This wordy tale joins the ranks of books that deal with the separation anxiety many children experience when it's time for kindergarten. Arriving at school, Samuel says, "I hate it when you leave me at school. I wish you were the tiniest mommy in the world so I could keep you in my pocket all day." His mother tells him she has a tiny mommy and pretends to slip something into his pocket. At first, Samuel thinks this is fantastic. Pocket Mommy helps him with everything! However, as the day goes on, Pocket Mommy helicopters and meddles, causing Samuel to spend much of his day focused on her. Because of this, both his self-confidence and desire for independence are increased, and at the end of the day, he reflects that he's ready to leave his mother at home. Though similar in title and theme to Carol Hunt Sendarak's Mommy in My Pocket (Hyperion, 2006), the message here is more about embracing independence (both for adults and children) than assurances of love. The stylized cartoon figures inhabit a cheery watercolor-washed world, and the pictures add emotional depth to the story. It's too long for group sharing, but adults will enjoy the book for one-on-one reading. A solid choice for larger collections.—Anna Haase Krueger, Ramsey County Library, White Bear Lake, MN