Mama, Don't Go!

Yoko & Friends: School Days #1

by Rosemary Wells, Jody Wheeler (Illustrator)

Yoko simply can't wait for her first day of school. She wants to make new friends, feed the goldfish, and string a necklace of colored beads. But Yoko doesn't want Mama to leave! What is she never returns?

Genres: Picture Books, School, Childrens

32 pages, Hardcover

First published July 30, 2001

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Rosemary Wells is an American writer and illustrator of children's books. She often uses animal characters to address real human issues. Some of her most well-known characters are Max & Ruby and Timothy from Timothy Goes To School (both were later adapted into Canadian-animated preschool television series, the former’s airing on Nickelodeon (part of the Nick Jr. block) and the latter’s as part of PBS Kids on PBS).

Reviews

[Sarah Sammis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mama, Don't Go! by Rosemary Wells is the first in the Yoko and Friends School Days series. It's Yoko's first day of preschool and she's mortified. She wants to play with the other kids but she doesn't want her mother to leave. Mama, with the patience of a saint, agrees to stay with Yoko at school not one but through three days of school!

The story is about separation anxiety and the fears that some young children might have about going to school. Yoko's biggest fear is that her mother won't come back. As the older kids tell her, "after awhile, you have ask them to stay home." (p. 16) Yoko does eventually learn the importance of going to school and giving her mother some free time.

I picked up this book for two reasons. First and foremost were the illustrations. Yoko and her mother are cats and Harriet adores books about cats. The second reason is that Harriet sometimes goes through crying jags at school and she certainly sees the new kids to her school crying when their parents leave. It therefore covers a topic that is relevant to her.

Other books in the series include:

* The School Play
* Halloween Play
* Be My Valentine
* Doris's Dinosaur
* The Germ Busters
* Bubble-Gum Radar
* The Secret Birthday
* Make New Friends
* When I Grow Up
* Read Me a Story Practice Makes Perfect
* Yoko Writes Her Name (review coming)

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yoko is having trouble adjusting to being dropped off at school. As much as she enjoys her school activities and friends, she doesn't want her mother to leave. Her friend, Timothy, helps her understand that sometimes mothers need a break but they will always come back. A gently reassuring book that captures the anxiety of the mother / child separation.

[Tricia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Mixed feelings on this title about Yoko starting school and not wanting her mother to leave the classroom. could be my tough love approach to this type of thing...found the book at times a bit overindulgent of the child's whimpering. cold, i know.

[Tinkerbelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really like liked this book beacause i was the same way when i started school and i can raelly realat to yoko in this story.

[Elanor]

All by herself!