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Mama and Mommy and Me in the Middle
A little girl stays home with Mama when Mommy goes off on a work trip in this tender, inviting story that will resonate with every child who has missed a parent.
For one little girl, there’s no place she’d rather be than sitting between Mama and Mommy. So when Mommy goes away on a work trip, it’s tricky to find a good place at the table. As the days go by, Mama brings her to the library, they watch movies, and all of them talk on the phone, but she still misses Mommy as deep as the ocean and as high as an astronaut up in the stars. As they pass by a beautiful garden, the girl gets an idea…but when Mommy finally comes home, it takes a minute to shake off the empty feeling she felt all week before leaning in for a kiss. Michael L. Printz Award winner Nina LaCour thoughtfully renders a familiar, touching story of a child who misses a parent, illustrated by Kaylani Juanita, whose distinctive style brings charm and playfulness to this delightful family of three.
For one little girl, there’s no place she’d rather be than sitting between Mama and Mommy. So when Mommy goes away on a work trip, it’s tricky to find a good place at the table. As the days go by, Mama brings her to the library, they watch movies, and all of them talk on the phone, but she still misses Mommy as deep as the ocean and as high as an astronaut up in the stars. As they pass by a beautiful garden, the girl gets an idea…but when Mommy finally comes home, it takes a minute to shake off the empty feeling she felt all week before leaning in for a kiss. Michael L. Printz Award winner Nina LaCour thoughtfully renders a familiar, touching story of a child who misses a parent, illustrated by Kaylani Juanita, whose distinctive style brings charm and playfulness to this delightful family of three.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published March 29, 2022
4 people are currently reading
661 people want to read
About the author
Nina LaCour
24 books6,095 followersNina LaCour is the Michael L. Printz Award-winning and nationally bestselling author of six young adult novels, including Watch Over Me and We Are Okay; the children's book Mama and Mommy and Me in the Middle; and Yerba Buena, a novel for adults. She's on faculty at Hamline University's MFA in writing for Children and Young Adults program, and teaches an online class of her own called The Slow Novel Lab. A former indie bookseller and high school English teacher, she lives with her family in San Francisco.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 188 reviews
September 3, 2023
Absolutely gorgeous, story and illustrations. A kid with two moms spends a week at home while one of them is away on a week long work trip. The end made me cry.
April 5, 2022
Absolutely wonderful from the pop of lavender endpapers to the very last true, sweet moment through every single beat of the story and illustrations.
March 23, 2022
Precious!!
September 15, 2022
Mama and Mommy and Me in the Middle by Nina LaCour
Representation: Sapphic
Mama and Mommy and Me in the Middle is the story of a little girl who misses her Mommy when she leaves for a week for work. The story illustrates the feeling of missing a parent and the coping skills for dealing with it.
This ALC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
What a fantastic story! I love the idea of showing kids how families come in all shapes and sizes. This book touches on the reality of having a working mom and the sadness felt when they have to travel for work. I absolutely loved this story and the illustrations were amazing! The narrator also does an amazing job at capturing the innocence of the little girl.
Representation: Sapphic
Mama and Mommy and Me in the Middle is the story of a little girl who misses her Mommy when she leaves for a week for work. The story illustrates the feeling of missing a parent and the coping skills for dealing with it.
This ALC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
What a fantastic story! I love the idea of showing kids how families come in all shapes and sizes. This book touches on the reality of having a working mom and the sadness felt when they have to travel for work. I absolutely loved this story and the illustrations were amazing! The narrator also does an amazing job at capturing the innocence of the little girl.
April 27, 2022
I enjoyed this one so much I selected it for my phone-in storytime this week. This is a very cute story about a little girl missing her mommy while the mommy is away for a week on a business trip. We follow the little girl and her mama as they go through their week and miss mommy together. Absolutely adorable with great illustrations.
October 6, 2025
While shelving at work, I pulled this out at random for the display, only to catch the title after. I stood in the children's section reading it (we're slow today), and by the end was in tears. Seeing representation like this in children's books is so important and touched something in me today. I'm glad for these books. I'm glad for the children whose families look like this to be able to go to the library and see themselves. In times of struggle (and we are in such a time of struggle) these small kindnesses are the biggest thing imaginable.
(and yeah if you come into my library and I look like I've been crying. it's happy tears so let me live lmao)
(and yeah if you come into my library and I look like I've been crying. it's happy tears so let me live lmao)
December 3, 2022
We’ve come a long way from the assertive tone of Heather Has Two Mommies to this sweet story, in which same sex parents are not explained at all—it’s simply a setting. In other words, same sex relationship is normalized. I guess the little girl is biologically connected to one mother, but this point isn’t explained, either. Which is, again, great. I actually forgot to check it off in the LGBTQ shelf.
The artwork is adorable, the story relatable. Recommended to everyone (yes, everyone—not just gay people and their allies)
The artwork is adorable, the story relatable. Recommended to everyone (yes, everyone—not just gay people and their allies)
April 19, 2022
A little girl feels big emotions when one of her mom's is away on a business trip. The focus of Mama and Mommy and Me in the Middle is love. One of my favorite parts of the book is when it is circle time and the teacher asks the children what or who they are missing. Very sweet. The illustrations by Kaylani Juanita are unique, detailed and joyous. An absolutely darling book!
January 18, 2023
If you are the parent of a child ages 2-6, and you used to love those old (original) Holly Hobbie greeting cards but now you like tattoos, you are in for a treat to share with your family.
The adults wear flouncy shirts, puffy sweaters, brightly-colored cowboy boots, friendly, sweet, & sympathetic facial expressions with full lips and rosy cheeks that match their daughter. The rainbow doodles of flowers & strawberries for tattoos accompany a story to read aloud to a child who might be missing a parent on a work trip. This child helps with household chores, draws flowers, selects hair barrettes to coordinate with both parents, collects flowers, snuggles, and generally looks adorable no matter what little game they are playing.
The setting & characters are idealized to the point of treacle, which is not to my own taste, but may be exactly what some readers want.
But even in this idyllic two-mom paradise, troubles happen - one parent has to work away from home for a week - doing something fabulous, but still missed very much! And even though everyone at school is very understanding, sympathetic, and possibly experiencing worse dramas, the young child at the center of this story - like every child - is very attached to all the tiny little things they are used to doing with the other, missing parent, of course.
The first-person character in this story is the daughter of two moms, a brown-skinned girl who desperately misses the mom who also has brown skin, while she is comforted (but just barely) by the mom who has lighter skin and purple hair. As they go about their days, the young girl (maybe 5 years old) tries so hard to be strong despite the 6-day absence of the other mom.
Most parents have been through days when an exhausted child gets overwhelmed by their emotions and can't handle anything - not even the tiny setbacks they usually cope with easily. It is to be expected, when a parent is temporarily missing, since a young child may not yet understand that they will return.
My low rating for this cheerful book is due to the fact that something *feels* not right to me in this story. The idyllic, cherubic family portrait disintegrates so thoroughly within just 24 hours of the parent's absence (in the main character's mind) that the child seems unable to live their life when one piece of their trio is only available by phone. The IRL adult reading this book to a child is forced to humor the melodrama - while the butterflies flit sadly at the edge of the paper.
All the twee rococo stylization of this family feels like a slap in the face to children whose families will never be this privileged and pretty, and who experience longer absences more frequently for less fabulous reasons. Like Your Mama, the conventional prettiness of the parent seems to replace or stand in for any other positive qualities, the relationship feels generic and superficial, and the child and the family unit both feel weirdly objectified.
For example; library books are returned on an errand/outing, but not read, even though surely the author of a children's book might appreciate the affirmational effects of reading a book together when you are feeling blue.
The book effectively provides a demonstration-model two-mom family, if the target audience is inclined to support the coddling of children. For actual two-mom families, some percentage might see this as a nice mirror of their families' experience, even if they don't go in for the ultra-feminine style...but I'm going to guess that the retro-Holly-Hobbie fashion sense will most appeal to any family configuration that tends to infantilize, coddle, and coo over their precious children. Also, not my style...
I think this brings out my irritation because it echoes scenes I've observed in real life of parents indulging their children but failing to help them learn resilience. In the book, even the things the family does that might be seen as coping skills for emotional challenges are deployed as if not only the character, but the child reader at home couldn't understand, learn, & practice them independently.
The adults wear flouncy shirts, puffy sweaters, brightly-colored cowboy boots, friendly, sweet, & sympathetic facial expressions with full lips and rosy cheeks that match their daughter. The rainbow doodles of flowers & strawberries for tattoos accompany a story to read aloud to a child who might be missing a parent on a work trip. This child helps with household chores, draws flowers, selects hair barrettes to coordinate with both parents, collects flowers, snuggles, and generally looks adorable no matter what little game they are playing.
The setting & characters are idealized to the point of treacle, which is not to my own taste, but may be exactly what some readers want.
But even in this idyllic two-mom paradise, troubles happen - one parent has to work away from home for a week - doing something fabulous, but still missed very much! And even though everyone at school is very understanding, sympathetic, and possibly experiencing worse dramas, the young child at the center of this story - like every child - is very attached to all the tiny little things they are used to doing with the other, missing parent, of course.
The first-person character in this story is the daughter of two moms, a brown-skinned girl who desperately misses the mom who also has brown skin, while she is comforted (but just barely) by the mom who has lighter skin and purple hair. As they go about their days, the young girl (maybe 5 years old) tries so hard to be strong despite the 6-day absence of the other mom.
Most parents have been through days when an exhausted child gets overwhelmed by their emotions and can't handle anything - not even the tiny setbacks they usually cope with easily. It is to be expected, when a parent is temporarily missing, since a young child may not yet understand that they will return.
My low rating for this cheerful book is due to the fact that something *feels* not right to me in this story. The idyllic, cherubic family portrait disintegrates so thoroughly within just 24 hours of the parent's absence (in the main character's mind) that the child seems unable to live their life when one piece of their trio is only available by phone. The IRL adult reading this book to a child is forced to humor the melodrama - while the butterflies flit sadly at the edge of the paper.
All the twee rococo stylization of this family feels like a slap in the face to children whose families will never be this privileged and pretty, and who experience longer absences more frequently for less fabulous reasons. Like Your Mama, the conventional prettiness of the parent seems to replace or stand in for any other positive qualities, the relationship feels generic and superficial, and the child and the family unit both feel weirdly objectified.
For example; library books are returned on an errand/outing, but not read, even though surely the author of a children's book might appreciate the affirmational effects of reading a book together when you are feeling blue.
The book effectively provides a demonstration-model two-mom family, if the target audience is inclined to support the coddling of children. For actual two-mom families, some percentage might see this as a nice mirror of their families' experience, even if they don't go in for the ultra-feminine style...but I'm going to guess that the retro-Holly-Hobbie fashion sense will most appeal to any family configuration that tends to infantilize, coddle, and coo over their precious children. Also, not my style...
I think this brings out my irritation because it echoes scenes I've observed in real life of parents indulging their children but failing to help them learn resilience. In the book, even the things the family does that might be seen as coping skills for emotional challenges are deployed as if not only the character, but the child reader at home couldn't understand, learn, & practice them independently.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 19, 2022
A little girl lives with her Mommy and her Mama. When Mommy goes away on a trip, the girl misses her terribly. She does something special with Mama each day of the week that Mommy is away, and talks to her on the phone, but having one parent missing from her life feels tricky. Finally Mommy comes home, but “It isn’t a day for kisses,” the girl tells her. Her patient Mommy understands.
What a lovely book! Juanita’s beautiful mixed media art creates the perfect warm, loving, cozy family feel, while depicting the family with contemporary markers. Mommy is Black, Mama is white with lots of colorful tattoos and purple hair, and the little girl is Black. The home, neighborhood and school are sweet and supportive, full of flowers and cafés. Every child can identify with the family, no matter the race or family makeup because of how completely the feeling of love pervades the book. The big emotions that the little girl feels are treated with respect, even as the adult reader can giggle at her lying abject on the floor or hunched over the table dramatically. Perfect for all collections.
What a lovely book! Juanita’s beautiful mixed media art creates the perfect warm, loving, cozy family feel, while depicting the family with contemporary markers. Mommy is Black, Mama is white with lots of colorful tattoos and purple hair, and the little girl is Black. The home, neighborhood and school are sweet and supportive, full of flowers and cafés. Every child can identify with the family, no matter the race or family makeup because of how completely the feeling of love pervades the book. The big emotions that the little girl feels are treated with respect, even as the adult reader can giggle at her lying abject on the floor or hunched over the table dramatically. Perfect for all collections.
April 29, 2022
I just want all the outfits in this book! LGBTQ+ and BIPOC representation.
April 24, 2022
So beautiful and sweet and queer and loving. This book has big feelings and lots of love and I love it.
October 9, 2022
Despite having a title that is very similar to the groundbreaking Leslea Newman children's book, Mama, Mommy and Me (which came out in 2009), this is an original story about a little girl being raised by two moms who has to deal with missing her mother when she's away on a business trip. The book tells the story of a little girl who counts down the days while her Mommy is away, and how the routines of her family life carried on by her Mama help the time pass more easily. The narration in the advanced copy audio book generously given to me by Netgalley is excellent, though I was disappointed that the ARC showed no pictures. (Perhaps a glitch?) But I looked at the pictures in samples and online and the illustrations are delightful. While the original Mama, Mommy and Me was just written to show children that there are all kinds of families, including lesbian moms raising children together, this book would be excellent to read to any child who is missing a parent who travels and/or a family with parents of different races-- and the message about lesbian parents would just be a side note (though the title makes it seem like the main idea, it isn't). Highly recommend for all kinds of families.
May 28, 2025
it doesn’t get cuter than this🥹 this is my favorite children’s book featuring two moms so far!!! their little family was so adorable. did i shed a tear? absolutely. and it was a small detail but the daughter and "Mommy" having the same birthmark was sooo cute 🥹 i also loved how the concept of consent was approached, with the daughter saying today wasn’t a day for kisses and "Mommy" telling her that that was okay and reassuring her with kind words instead 🤍
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April 2, 2025I love these cuties and this story.
April 7, 2022
Just a great picture book about a kid who's at home with one parent, missing another parent who's away. Incredibly sweet and authentic, and the details in illustrations wonderfully add to the text.
January 14, 2023
Harper and I noticed and appreciated the family in this gorgeous book is the same as our family in two ways: (1) We also have three family members; and (2) Both families have one white parent, one Black parent, and a Black child (My kid is mixed race and typically refers to herself as such).
The illustrations are stunning, and the story is incredibly lovely. This is a very special book.
The illustrations are stunning, and the story is incredibly lovely. This is a very special book.
November 22, 2023
This story will resonate with so many families - kids and parents alike. And I could spend literal HOURS pouring over all the delicious details in Kaylani Juanita's gorgeous illustrations.
September 27, 2022
The perfect book for families where one (or both) parents travel for work. As the little girl is kept entertained by Mama, thoughts of Mommy are never far from her mind.
The bonus here, is how Nina LaCour represents LGBTQ+ families. The point is simply that the child misses the parent who isn't home. Nothing is mentioned about having two moms or that anything is different in this household.
A sweet story, beautifully told.
The audio version is nicely performed by Marion Toro. Ms. Toro's musical voice is sure to grab the attention of adults and children alike.
thank you to Dreamscape Media via NetGalley for providing me with an audiobook copy of Mama and Mommy and Me in the Middle, all opinions are my own
The bonus here, is how Nina LaCour represents LGBTQ+ families. The point is simply that the child misses the parent who isn't home. Nothing is mentioned about having two moms or that anything is different in this household.
A sweet story, beautifully told.
The audio version is nicely performed by Marion Toro. Ms. Toro's musical voice is sure to grab the attention of adults and children alike.
thank you to Dreamscape Media via NetGalley for providing me with an audiobook copy of Mama and Mommy and Me in the Middle, all opinions are my own
July 25, 2023
This is really well written. So far this is my favorite story in an LGBTQ+ child’s book.
The art is also beautiful and I love that there a many things to see if you look around. Like on the pages that show the projector movie… you can see a momma possum with her babies on her back, a owl sitting on a fence post, a raccoon family coming out of the sewers and a dog watching a cat through the fence.
I can’t wait to read this book to my child one day.
The art is also beautiful and I love that there a many things to see if you look around. Like on the pages that show the projector movie… you can see a momma possum with her babies on her back, a owl sitting on a fence post, a raccoon family coming out of the sewers and a dog watching a cat through the fence.
I can’t wait to read this book to my child one day.
May 2, 2022
Second lovely children's book as I catch up on processing new books. I loved the representation in this one book, along with the descriptions of emotions. I feel like it describes the rollercoaster of emotions children feel very well, and how adults/parents should respect and respond to them! Another 10/10
May 16, 2022
Gah! It's so cute. Kaylani Juanita's pictures are, as always, entrancing, and I loved the story's day-of-the-week format. Precious.
Themes: Family, Missing someone, Days of the week
Age range: Toddler-Kindergarten
Themes: Family, Missing someone, Days of the week
Age range: Toddler-Kindergarten
April 14, 2022
this was sososo sweet and adorable i loved it a whole lot
May 2, 2022
Sweet picture book about missing someone you love so much
July 12, 2022
A very sweet story about a child missing one of their mom's when she is off on a business trip. The art was very sweet and the family's home was so cozy.
~Shay
~Shay
February 20, 2023
3.5
the art style is so nice!
the art style is so nice!
May 20, 2023
I love that this book doesn't have to explain why the little girl has to moms.
The illustrations are really cute though not completely my style.
The illustrations are really cute though not completely my style.
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November 23, 2023cute story that is not only good for representation, but for helping children come to terms with a parent that is away from home for a time
May 1, 2022
The illustrations were absolutely stunning and the story itself was super sweet!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 188 reviews