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My Mama Says There Aren't Any Zombies, Ghosts, Vampires, Creatures, Demons, Monsters, Fiends, Goblins, or Things
But...sometimes even Mamas make mistakes. Once she said there wasn't any cream cheese for his sandwich and then he found it underneath the lettuce. And once she said his tooth would fall out Thursday, and then it stayed till Sunday after lunch... Though, when it comes to demons and fiends and other bedtime terrors, sometimes even Mamas can be trusted.
48 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1973
About the author
Judith Viorst
125 books896 followersJudith Viorst is an American writer, newspaper journalist, and psychoanalysis researcher. She is known for her humorous observational poetry and for her children's literature. This includes The Tenth Good Thing About Barney (about the death of a pet) and the Alexander series of short picture books, which includes Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day (1972), which has sold over two million copies.
Viorst is a 1952 graduate of the Newark College of Arts and Sciences at Rutgers University in Newark, New Jersey. In 1968, she signed the "Writers and Editors War Tax Protest" pledge, vowing to refuse tax payments in protest against the Vietnam War. In the latter part of the 1970s, after two decades of writing for children and adults, Viorst turned to the study of Freudian psychology. In 1981, she became a research graduate at Washington Psychoanalytic Institute after six years of study.
Viorst is a 1952 graduate of the Newark College of Arts and Sciences at Rutgers University in Newark, New Jersey. In 1968, she signed the "Writers and Editors War Tax Protest" pledge, vowing to refuse tax payments in protest against the Vietnam War. In the latter part of the 1970s, after two decades of writing for children and adults, Viorst turned to the study of Freudian psychology. In 1981, she became a research graduate at Washington Psychoanalytic Institute after six years of study.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews
October 9, 2008
Mommy says: Really funny book about a kid whose Mama tells him there aren't any Zombies, etc., then he counters her each time with a tale of when she was wrong. So if she was wrong all those times, is she right or wrong about the zombies and monsters and such? Really cute and fun for Halloween or any time of the year.
When our sitter read this book to my daughter, about halfway through, my daughter announced, "MY Mommy NEVER makes mistakes." I understand that I have about 7 more years before she figures out that am just as flawed as the next fool!
When our sitter read this book to my daughter, about halfway through, my daughter announced, "MY Mommy NEVER makes mistakes." I understand that I have about 7 more years before she figures out that am just as flawed as the next fool!
July 1, 2009
A childhood favorite!
September 26, 2010
I really liked this book; it has simplicity to it that the more popular books of today do not have. The basic colors of the illustrations being in black, looks like the illustrator used pencil to sketch the pictures or at least that is what it looks like to me. I like the story as well that the child is questioning his mother and if she is telling him the truth or is she making a mistake just like he does sometimes. I like the book in the fact that it tells a story that students can relate to about everyday events and the fears of what my students are feeling.
December 6, 2019
I'm not quite sure why the bebe likes this one, especially because it's so different from the ones that she usually likes. She hangs onto the repetition more so than others and I dig the crazy 70's vibe of it. Specifically Mama's bellbottom and loose sweater-vest getups topped with a head rap. More fun for Dad than bebe ultimately because the artwork has a Silverstein quality and is recognizable in its own right. But for a 1 1/2 year old, I can get through way more pages of this before she gets bored than others.
February 11, 2021
How can anyone believe a mother that says there are no monsters, vampires, zombies or any other creatures that lurk in the shadows when she is always so wrong about everything else? Sure mom, I'll believe you when you can remember how to drive to Timmy's without getting lost even once. Mothers, they think they know everything!
September 25, 2019
First off the title is a mouthful but even that alone makes me laugh. So I knew I would be laughing as I read to book too. Made it a little hard to read aloud since I was laughing so much but a fun read so it was worth it.
May 28, 2020
I loved this book when I was little. When I got it to read to my little girl tonight I was shocked to see it was published the year I was born. I am not old, I'm classic. This book is classic. A really fun read that "gets" the child mind. Good and scary illustrations.
November 27, 2008
Proves that mothers aren't always right. This is a good lessons for both kids and moms. I think this book is really funny and fun. One of my favorites
May 13, 2012
So far I really enjoyed reading this authors books. Her writing style is great and extraordinary. I love her imagination on this book and her details.
February 27, 2014
Notes:
hated the title but read it anyway
awful
mom says there are no scary things, but moms are wrong sometimes so....
yuk
hated the title but read it anyway
awful
mom says there are no scary things, but moms are wrong sometimes so....
yuk
May 23, 2018
Sometimes even Mamas make mistakes.
June 17, 2019
We love this book!
October 20, 2017
Maybe there aren't any ghosts, but there definitely are things.
I remember enjoying this book as a child. Which is kind of strange, because as an adult, it almost seems like it might be too scary for a child. Maybe too scary for a young child.
The story: a little boy, about six or seven, is talking about various things that he's afraid of. His mama says that the monsters he's afraid of aren't really there. There's no monster scratching at his window; there's no vampire flying over his house; there's no ghost in his closet. But it alternates between talking about how his mama says they don't exist, and relating events where his mama was wrong. "But yesterday my mama said I couldn't have some cream cheese on my sandwich, because, she said, there wasn't any more. And then I found the cream cheese under the lettuce in back of the Jello. So... sometimes even mamas make mistakes." Things that humanize the mother.
I think that was something I really appreciated as a child, that my parents, my mother especially, weren't afraid to admit when they were wrong, or had made a mistake, and read books like this that depict the parent as not always being in the right. "But Monday Mama said she put my crayons on my shelf. Just use your eyes, she said, and you will find them. I can't. You can. I can't. You can. I can't. All right! I'll find them, she said (not very nicely). But, guess what? She couldn't, too. So... sometimes even mamas make mistakes." And the very last one in the book is that a creature is coming after him, and he's afraid because the creature grabs him. And it turns out that it's not a creature but his mama in a blanket. And the last two sentences are, "Well, sometimes even mamas make mistakes. But sometimes they don't."
The illustrations are really well done black and white ink drawings. A lot of the subtle detail on the monsters implies that they are actually everyday objects that the boy is misinterpreting. For example, the ghost in his closet's tie is partly made of a sock, suggesting that the ghost is made of a pile of clothes.
I would be wary of reading this to an overly sensitive child, although I would identify my child self as a easily scared and I wasn't messed up. The monsters, while not realistic, might put ideas in the child's head, like a fiend that sneaked into his lower bunk. "And he's sniffing around for a boy to eat, and I'm the boy that he's sniffing, and... My mama says no fiends have sneaked in here." I guess it captures the insecurity of childhood with a vivid imagination, where you can't be sure that things aren't out to get you. And you know your parents are reassuring you, but can you trust them when you know they make mistakes? The book doesn't really resolve this question. In the last case, it's his mom in a blanket, but what about the others? There's no answers at the end. It's a lot like one of the author's other books, "Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day," where one of the last sentences is, "Some days are like that." And you have to deal with it. It's a very realistic message, with nothing sugarcoated. It's true and it resonated with me as a child. I worried about a lot of things and identified with this child.
I guess the lack of realism in the drawings of the monsters is what made this not as scary to me as a child, and that monsters were not really what I worried about. The realism of the story and the humanizing of the mother are really good.
But know your child. Know whether this will add to their worries or ease them.
Message: Parents are human, too, but they really love you and want what's best for you.
For more children's book reviews, see my website at http://www.drttmk.com.
I remember enjoying this book as a child. Which is kind of strange, because as an adult, it almost seems like it might be too scary for a child. Maybe too scary for a young child.
The story: a little boy, about six or seven, is talking about various things that he's afraid of. His mama says that the monsters he's afraid of aren't really there. There's no monster scratching at his window; there's no vampire flying over his house; there's no ghost in his closet. But it alternates between talking about how his mama says they don't exist, and relating events where his mama was wrong. "But yesterday my mama said I couldn't have some cream cheese on my sandwich, because, she said, there wasn't any more. And then I found the cream cheese under the lettuce in back of the Jello. So... sometimes even mamas make mistakes." Things that humanize the mother.
I think that was something I really appreciated as a child, that my parents, my mother especially, weren't afraid to admit when they were wrong, or had made a mistake, and read books like this that depict the parent as not always being in the right. "But Monday Mama said she put my crayons on my shelf. Just use your eyes, she said, and you will find them. I can't. You can. I can't. You can. I can't. All right! I'll find them, she said (not very nicely). But, guess what? She couldn't, too. So... sometimes even mamas make mistakes." And the very last one in the book is that a creature is coming after him, and he's afraid because the creature grabs him. And it turns out that it's not a creature but his mama in a blanket. And the last two sentences are, "Well, sometimes even mamas make mistakes. But sometimes they don't."
The illustrations are really well done black and white ink drawings. A lot of the subtle detail on the monsters implies that they are actually everyday objects that the boy is misinterpreting. For example, the ghost in his closet's tie is partly made of a sock, suggesting that the ghost is made of a pile of clothes.
I would be wary of reading this to an overly sensitive child, although I would identify my child self as a easily scared and I wasn't messed up. The monsters, while not realistic, might put ideas in the child's head, like a fiend that sneaked into his lower bunk. "And he's sniffing around for a boy to eat, and I'm the boy that he's sniffing, and... My mama says no fiends have sneaked in here." I guess it captures the insecurity of childhood with a vivid imagination, where you can't be sure that things aren't out to get you. And you know your parents are reassuring you, but can you trust them when you know they make mistakes? The book doesn't really resolve this question. In the last case, it's his mom in a blanket, but what about the others? There's no answers at the end. It's a lot like one of the author's other books, "Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day," where one of the last sentences is, "Some days are like that." And you have to deal with it. It's a very realistic message, with nothing sugarcoated. It's true and it resonated with me as a child. I worried about a lot of things and identified with this child.
I guess the lack of realism in the drawings of the monsters is what made this not as scary to me as a child, and that monsters were not really what I worried about. The realism of the story and the humanizing of the mother are really good.
But know your child. Know whether this will add to their worries or ease them.
Message: Parents are human, too, but they really love you and want what's best for you.
For more children's book reviews, see my website at http://www.drttmk.com.
March 28, 2021
My Mama Says There Aren't Any Zom… by Judith Viorst tells a story of events and fears to which any child can relate. In the story a child is questioning his mother whether she is telling him the truth, or she is making a mistake just like he does sometimes. The boy is progressively discovering that his mom can make mistakes and be occasionally wrong. Therefore, when she promises that there are no monsters, he is not sure if he can believe her. But, at the end when mama tells him that “a creature isn't reaching out his hand to pinch or squinch or push or squish” him she is right because the creature turns out to be mama in a blanket. The story is a good lesson for both moms and children that mothers aren't always right and it is natural that as human beings they make mistakes.
February 6, 2023
Badger loves the spookiness of the illustrations l. The refrain is so cute because sometimes Mamas really do make mistakes whether it is a wiggly tooth coming out on the wrong day or the wrong flavor ice cream.
Kids do wonder whether zombies or vampires are real, and this book pokes fun at that fantasy. This is an oldie but a goodie!
Kids do wonder whether zombies or vampires are real, and this book pokes fun at that fantasy. This is an oldie but a goodie!
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October 8, 2019This is a silly story of a boy telling his mom what he's afraid of and her telling him they're not real. The boy then provides an example of when his mom was wrong countering it could be real because she makes makes mistakes too.
May 5, 2023
Again, ehh? I think it’s good to show that parents can be both right and wrong, but not sure how that supports the goal of helping a child sleep here. Also, this book is super long; I’d recommend a much shorter book for a small child afraid of nightmares, etc.
December 1, 2017
This may be a more dated read, but it was clever, and endearing.
February 5, 2019
My kids would rate this a 4 or 5. They quote it now all the time, saying, “so...sometimes even mamas make mistakes.”
July 31, 2023
Too long for storytime.
October 20, 2024
I dig the illustrations and the old-timey spelling of zombi.
October 28, 2024
retro fun with weird illustrations
December 22, 2024
Judith Viorst is a great children’s author. She does great at writing the young child’s point of view.
I didn’t like that she spelled the word “zombi” without the -e otherwise I’d give it 5 Stars.
I didn’t like that she spelled the word “zombi” without the -e otherwise I’d give it 5 Stars.
February 26, 2025
Charming.
May 20, 2012
I love Judith Viorst's books. They are so poignant, and sincere, and she often pulls no punches, even with sensitive and difficult topics. Her stories are usually filled with wit and wisdom, even those told from a child's perspective, like this one.
This is a fun story about a little boy who is gradually discovering that his mom is not perfect, that she makes mistakes sometimes and is occasionally wrong. So when she promises that there are no monsters, he's not sure if he can believe her.
The black and white illustrations are comical and the monsters aren't too scary. For some reason, a couple of them reminded me of the creatures from Where the Wild Things Are, but perhaps that's just because the passing of Maurice Sendak has been on my mind.
Overall, this was an entertaining story and we enjoyed reading this story together. We will certainly look for more of Judith Viorst's books at our local library.
This is a fun story about a little boy who is gradually discovering that his mom is not perfect, that she makes mistakes sometimes and is occasionally wrong. So when she promises that there are no monsters, he's not sure if he can believe her.
The black and white illustrations are comical and the monsters aren't too scary. For some reason, a couple of them reminded me of the creatures from Where the Wild Things Are, but perhaps that's just because the passing of Maurice Sendak has been on my mind.
Overall, this was an entertaining story and we enjoyed reading this story together. We will certainly look for more of Judith Viorst's books at our local library.
February 3, 2015
This is a wonderful 'monster' book without being goory or scarey for younger children or like my boys they are special needs teenage boys and like to like things that are 'big boy' but yet they get scared easily. But this book they both enjoyed and sometimes giggled through. One son even took the book and carried it around and looked through it. Through the book the little boy thinks he sees all kinds of monsters and goblins etc but his Mama tells him there is no such thing but also his Mama tells him things like there wasn't any cream cheese for his sandwich but later he found some in the back of the fridge so 'sometimes Mama's make mistakes' cute little book that repeats things like this throughout the book along with him talking about seeing or hearing monsters. One we have now marked as one to own for our own 'little monsters'....
August 1, 2017
I like the repetition in the book.
October 15, 2012
A great story about a boy who can't trust his mom because she makes mistakes about things like where his crayons are and his ability in carrying groceries. He believes there are monsters and things in his room at night. At the end of the story his mother pretends to be a monsters, but he realizes it's just her. This is a fun book, because the language is everyday language and make it easy to read. By the same author (Judith Viorst) as Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day.
April 26, 2011
Cool addition to our Halloween library. I'm sort of ok with the message that moms are not always right, but tying that to the monsters makes it hard to reassure my child that monsters are only make believe. And really this book is asking kids to question their blind trust of their moms. It may be a bit early for us for that still. So I'm always uneasy reading this.
My little one found it scary. But he liked it.
My little one found it scary. But he liked it.
December 2, 2019
I'm glad I got this book. It still makes me a little bit uncomfortable to think about introducing the idea that fantastical monster may be real to children, but I suppose parents and teachers will just have to know their children well before introducing it. For the brave, this book explores the ways in which parents make mistakes, again and again. And that is a very real thing. It explores the uncertainty a child may have with what they should believe.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews