Mama Elizabeti

Elizabeti #2

by Stephanie Stuve-Bodeen, Christy Hale (Illustrator), S.A. Bodeen

When her mother becomes preoccupied with her new baby sister, Elizabeti offers to help by taking care of her younger brother, yet things don't go as easy as planned as young Elizabeti realizes that taking care of a person is a much greater challenge than taking care of her baby dolls.

Genres: Picture Books, Africa, Family, Childrens, Fiction, African American

32 pages, Hardcover

First published May 1, 2000

About the author

See also S.A. Bodeen.

Reviews

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Elizabeti is a big sister now, and it's time for her to help out more. Obedi is a handful, but no match for our smart little girl. Pretty soon he'll be helping, too, because that's how families grow together, especially in close-knit villages in rural Tanzania.

(I don't understand the complaint about "parentification" and "abuse" in that negative review.)

(avl. on openlibrary.org)

[Claudia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This books is about Elizabeti whose mother just had a new baby. Her mother has to spend all her time taking care of the new baby so Elizabeti has to take care of her little brother, Obedi. Elizabeti feels very prepared to take care of Obedi because she had been taking care of her doll Eva her whole life. However, when Elizabeti is left alone with Obedi she sees how hard it is to do her chores and take care of a baby at the same time. She wonders how her mother ever got anything done and wishes she could take care of Eva again. Obedi eventually learns to walk and Elizabeti has an easier time taking care of him and starts to enjoy it.
I really enjoyed this book, the story was very cute and mature. It takes place in an African village so it is also interesting to see that and the illustrations were very pretty. I like the characters and I think Elizabeti would be relatable to any student who just became a big brother or sister.
This book did not have any hard hard and did not have very many words on the pages, younger children would do well reading this book. It would also be useful to give to students who have a new sibling in the house. It teaches them how to deal with an expanding family and learn to love their siblings.

[Pam · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is my least favorite of the Elizabeti books. Elizabeti has to take care of her baby brother as Mama must take care of the new baby.

[Emma Aly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Elizabeti has a rock doll. She takes care of it just like her mother takes care of her little brother. Her mother has a new baby, and Elizabeti is tasked with taking care of her brother. She carries him with her, but a child isn't as still as a rock. Will Elizabeti be able to take care of her brother?

I love this book! It's a super cute story that tells about responsibility and family. I think it beautifully illustrates growing up and taking on new tasks.

I would use this to discuss responsibility and helpfulness in an early elementary classroom.

[Lolo Onda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Upon first read, I liked this book a lot! The illustrations were beautiful and the concept of the story was something I felt was relatable to my students (as many of them have younger siblings that they care for in various different ways). There were too many cultural elements to this text that I do not have first hand experience in, but after reading a few other reviews, my eyes were opened to some of the not so positive elements of the text. I think that overall the concept of the book was innocent enough and made to demonstrate the love Elizabeti had for her family.

[Mia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Welcome to the 2nd story for Elizabeti -- a young Tanzanian girl. In this story, Elizabeti sees Mama has her hands full with new baby Flora and decides she can help look after Obedi. But what happens when Obedi makes all of her chores more difficult? Love Elizabeti. Cute series that reflects aspects of Tanzanian culture.

[Kate]

Mama Elizabeti is a story that children may not understand. It would be a really good story to read to teach children about something new. While reading this you would have to stop many times to explain and talk about all the different things. When reading it, there was something that I didn't even know.

[Susan · Rating 1 out of 5]

The normalization of the parentification of a child; the normalization of an abusive situation. No. Just no. I would never recommend that anyone read this book to children ever.

No. Just no.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very sweet book ❤️

[Tye · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this heartwarming story.

It was refreshing to read.

[Christine · Rating 2 out of 5]

I like the illustrations in this book, especially the depictions of babywearing. I also like the descriptions and depictions of Elizabeti cheerfully contributing to her family's work. But I found this book flawed:
1. Most significantly, when Obedi is missing, Elizabeti worries that her parents will think that she doesn't know how to care for a real baby. Why isn't she worried about Obedi's safety instead of (or at least in addition to) what her parents will think of her???
2. I don't like how she ends up using a leash for Obedi.
3. This seems to be a family living in a traditional society where babies would be breastfed for a significant time, so it seems unlikely (though possible) that Elizabeti's mother would have had another baby before Obedi knew how to walk.

[Paris · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would recommend this book to grades 2-3. This book is about a girl who experiences what it is like to take care of her baby brother. She learned that it was much different and more challenging to look after her baby brother than it is a baby doll. I would read this book to students show them that caring for others has its rewards.

[Lauren James · Rating 5 out of 5]

A widely-appealing concept--Elizabeti has trouble taking care of her little brother and doing her chores at the same time, and is torn between her love and frustration--meets a specific context--Elizabeti's village and day-to-day life--for a winning, funny, and warm picture book. Absolutely worth reading, and probably a must-have for any older sibling.

[Katie Zebrowski · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great read aloud to illustrate how caring for others is a reward upon itself. I love Stephanie Stuve-Bodeen (Peace Corps Volunteer and amazing author? She's the total package!) Elizabeti's Doll is also a great book, that came before Mama Elizabeti. Would recommend for any elementary grade level.

[S10_Matthew · Rating 3 out of 5]

For K-3

[S10_Jessica Oster · Rating 3 out of 5]

format: picture book
age: elementary
protagonist: Elizabeti

[Cherisse · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

Another charming story about Elizabeti and her family. Obedi is no longer the youngest, and is now Elizabeti's charge, but he's a much bigger handful than her stone, Eva.

[Sandy Brehl · Rating 3 out of 5]

This sequel to Elizabeti's Doll is a fun continuation of Elizabeti's family, demonstrating her continued growth and development within her growing family.

[Superreader200 · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's about a girl with my name. She helps her mom.

[Kathy Garner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good connection to having a new baby at home and the new responsibilities that could come.