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Mom Goes to Work
With more than 24 million working mothers in the U.S. today, here's the perfect book for every young child whose mother works, whether in an office or at home. Kids and their moms people this charmingly illustrated picture book about the many different things there are for mothers to be and do. Full-color.
32 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1992
24 people want to read
About the author
Libby Gleeson
63 books38 followers"I was born in Young, a small town in south western NSW in 1950. After a few years we moved to Glen Innes, on the northern tablelands and then when I was ten we moved out west to Dubbo. We moved because my father was a schoolteacher and each change meant a promotion for him.
There were six children in the family. I was number three and there wasn't a lot of money. We didn't have television and of course there was no such thing as a computer.
Books and reading were hugely important. I remember going to the library on a Saturday morning and borrowing five or six books and reading them all by Sunday night.
When I finished High School I studied at the University of Sydney. I had a great time studying mainly history but also getting involved in lots of things happening at the University and the city. It was the time of the anti-Vietnam war protests and the rise of the Women's Movement.
I taught for two years in a small town, Picton, which is just outside of Sydney. I really enjoyed that time but I wanted to travel and in 1976 I headed off for five years. I based myself first in Italy where I taught English and then in London where I started writing my first novel, Eleanor, Elizabeth. I attended a creative writing group where the other students pushed me to write a better book. In London I also met my husband. We came back to Sydney in 1980. We've got three daughters.
When we first came back I taught at the University of NSW but now I write full-time. I've written thirty books and I've also taught occasional courses in creative writing and I've visited lots of schools to talk about my work.
I write picture books, novels for young kids and also novels for slightly older readers. I've done a book about writing and also a small amount of writing for television: Bananas in Pyjamas and Magic Mountain.
The writer's life is pretty good. It's a job where you work for yourself, in your daggy track suit, at times that suit you. What more could you ask for?"
from: http://www.libbygleeson.com.au/biogra...
There were six children in the family. I was number three and there wasn't a lot of money. We didn't have television and of course there was no such thing as a computer.
Books and reading were hugely important. I remember going to the library on a Saturday morning and borrowing five or six books and reading them all by Sunday night.
When I finished High School I studied at the University of Sydney. I had a great time studying mainly history but also getting involved in lots of things happening at the University and the city. It was the time of the anti-Vietnam war protests and the rise of the Women's Movement.
I taught for two years in a small town, Picton, which is just outside of Sydney. I really enjoyed that time but I wanted to travel and in 1976 I headed off for five years. I based myself first in Italy where I taught English and then in London where I started writing my first novel, Eleanor, Elizabeth. I attended a creative writing group where the other students pushed me to write a better book. In London I also met my husband. We came back to Sydney in 1980. We've got three daughters.
When we first came back I taught at the University of NSW but now I write full-time. I've written thirty books and I've also taught occasional courses in creative writing and I've visited lots of schools to talk about my work.
I write picture books, novels for young kids and also novels for slightly older readers. I've done a book about writing and also a small amount of writing for television: Bananas in Pyjamas and Magic Mountain.
The writer's life is pretty good. It's a job where you work for yourself, in your daggy track suit, at times that suit you. What more could you ask for?"
from: http://www.libbygleeson.com.au/biogra...
Ratings & Reviews
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
November 28, 2017
Indy was not too keen on this book. There was nothing to 'grab' his attention, even though he participates in this stuff everyday (mums and dads dropping kids off to pre school). Every day life explained well enough, great illustrations. He wondered 'who did the drawings' so I think they definitely appeal to that age group. I'm sure well behaved little children who sit nicely for a book would love this one. I got Indy wiggling his bum at me, while I was trying to read this with him on my bed, instead. He's a silly billy sometimes!
February 5, 2017
This picture is thorough and consistent in the way it mirrors the daily occupations of a handful of pre-school mums after they deposit their precious little ones at the local child care centre. Ironically, the kids they leave behind there experience days just as full and meaningful as their mothers'. Rudge's illustrations are warm and relatable. A great book to share with children in care to alleviate separation anxiety in under 6-year-olds.
August 17, 2018
i liked how it shows mums doing all kinds of jobs. and gives a bit of insight into what mums do while kids are playing at kindy. The way it is written though....its a bit boring.
May 12, 2019
A useful social story for kids in daycare. It makes their story normal and connects with mums at their work.
December 11, 2020
A book about mums going to work and dropping their children off at daycare.
October 20, 2021
we see moms at work while their toddlers at daycare create their own play, often imitating what mom does at work.
May 26, 2023
Lots of mums going off for the day to work in different occupations while their children at childcare are equally busy doing their activities.
January 5, 2017
Mum Goes to Work is a wonderful picture book, with expressive illustrations, a positive storyline, and hidden extras that tell a sub story. It’s a story that has a little something for everyone.
The book runs two stories in parallel. The main arc follows a group children as they go to daycare and the exciting times they have. On each page a new mother is introduced, with details about their job. The story then goes on to talk about that mothers child and the fun things they’re doing.
Just as the children at daycare all play and interact with each other, the parents end up interacting with each other through the course of their normal jobs. This forms a story that is cleverly hidden in the pictures. Laurence’s mother trips over a dog lead of Anne’s fathers’ dog, injures herself and has to go to hospital, where she’s seen by Max’s mum, the nurse. The dog escapes and the story helps the dog find its way back to Ann’s father by illustrating what various mothers do at work.
This is such an excellent idea for a picture book, and extends the book for shared reading exploration and dialogic reading, as there are so many other stories hidden in the pictures that can be discussed. Yet the illustrations are not busy. They are simple, but expressive faces, with solid detail in the background.
There is also great variation in the jobs that the mothers that reflect real life. It’s nice to see the stay at home mum, café worker, and shop assistant represented alongside a teacher, gardener and architect. Although a few more “high powered” jobs would be nice.
Although there is one dad and a male day care worker in the story, Mum Goes to Work is very female-centric.
I also love the play the children are doing, and the wonderful illustrations that emphasise this. “Rosie, Jack and Nadia wash all the dolls and teddies and put them out to dry” has the kids in an outside tub washing all their soft toys, with already washed soft toys in a tree drying. It’s such realistic vision.
This is a delightful book, with text that pleasantly rolls off the tongue, without being in a sing-song rhyme, illustrations that are expressive yet simply expressed, and hidden stories within the pages that enable long discussions. I thoroughly recommend this book for all ages.
Review published in full on NZ Booksellers. https://booksellersnz.wordpress.com/2...
Mum Goes to Work
by Libby Gleeson & Leila Rudge
Published by Walker Books
ISBN 9781921529825
Full review also on http://www.littlebooksgrowingminds.co...
The book runs two stories in parallel. The main arc follows a group children as they go to daycare and the exciting times they have. On each page a new mother is introduced, with details about their job. The story then goes on to talk about that mothers child and the fun things they’re doing.
Just as the children at daycare all play and interact with each other, the parents end up interacting with each other through the course of their normal jobs. This forms a story that is cleverly hidden in the pictures. Laurence’s mother trips over a dog lead of Anne’s fathers’ dog, injures herself and has to go to hospital, where she’s seen by Max’s mum, the nurse. The dog escapes and the story helps the dog find its way back to Ann’s father by illustrating what various mothers do at work.
This is such an excellent idea for a picture book, and extends the book for shared reading exploration and dialogic reading, as there are so many other stories hidden in the pictures that can be discussed. Yet the illustrations are not busy. They are simple, but expressive faces, with solid detail in the background.
There is also great variation in the jobs that the mothers that reflect real life. It’s nice to see the stay at home mum, café worker, and shop assistant represented alongside a teacher, gardener and architect. Although a few more “high powered” jobs would be nice.
Although there is one dad and a male day care worker in the story, Mum Goes to Work is very female-centric.
I also love the play the children are doing, and the wonderful illustrations that emphasise this. “Rosie, Jack and Nadia wash all the dolls and teddies and put them out to dry” has the kids in an outside tub washing all their soft toys, with already washed soft toys in a tree drying. It’s such realistic vision.
This is a delightful book, with text that pleasantly rolls off the tongue, without being in a sing-song rhyme, illustrations that are expressive yet simply expressed, and hidden stories within the pages that enable long discussions. I thoroughly recommend this book for all ages.
Review published in full on NZ Booksellers. https://booksellersnz.wordpress.com/2...
Mum Goes to Work
by Libby Gleeson & Leila Rudge
Published by Walker Books
ISBN 9781921529825
Full review also on http://www.littlebooksgrowingminds.co...
July 22, 2015
Daycare and working mothers - welcome to a multicultural reality
April 12, 2018
Alright book, a little drawn out.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews