Hush, Mama Loves You

by Anna Strauss

Sarah is growing up fast. She swings on swings, slides down slides, and climbs trees. Whenever she falls, her mother sweeps her up in her arms and soothes away the hurt. Her mother is always there for her-on her first day of school, when she falls in love for the first time, and finally when she leaves home and starts a family of her own. It is then that Sarah realizes what a wonderful gift her mother has given her. As she watches over a daughter of her own, Sarah passes on that gift, helping her child through the trials of growing up with a gentle strength and enduring love. This beautiful testament to the powerful bond between mothers and daughters will move and inspire mothers while reassuring their daughters that they have a special safety net that will never let them down. Anna Strauss was only sixteen-years-old when she was inspired to write this story as a gift for her mother. Now her enchanting story makes a perfect gift to celebrate the special mother/daughter bond on Mother's Day, Graduation Day, and all year round.

Genres: Childrens

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2002

Reviews

[Jenna Dillon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Summary: Sarah is growing up fast. She swings on swings, slides down slides, and climbs trees. Whenever she falls, her mother sweeps her up in her arms and soothes away the hurt. Her mother is always there for her-on her first day of school, when she falls in love for the first time, and finally when she leaves home and starts a family of her own. It is then that Sarah realizes what a wonderful gift her mother has given her. As she watches over a daughter of her own, Sarah passes on that gift, helping her child through the trials of growing up with a gentle strength and enduring love. This beautiful testament to the powerful bond between mothers and daughters will move and inspire mothers while reassuring their daughters that they have a special safety net that will never let them down. Anna Strauss was only sixteen-years-old when she was inspired to write this story as a gift for her mother. Now her enchanting story makes a perfect gift to celebrate the special mother/daughter bond on Mother's Day, Graduation Day, and all year round.

Genre: realistic fiction

Potential Audience: This book is for fluent readers, who are female and looking for acceptance.

Curricular uses: independent reading book, shared reading, possibly read aloud

Social issues: Broken hearts, making friends, leaving home and starting a new chapter in life, unconditional love,even in the face of adversity

Literary elements: lyrical prose, repetition, foreshadowing, similes

Interactions between text and image: The illustrations run parallel with the text, and help tell the story. Because the illustrations are done in pastel colors, I think that the readers feel at ease when they are looking at the pictures. The pictures convey the author's loving tone and the joyful mood of the book.

[Aimee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book about a mother and daughter, and follows their relationship from when the little girl is a baby all the way to when she gets married and has her own daughter. I wouldn't read this to a class, but I will remember this book as a gift for my friends that have daughters. This would be a book that new moms would love.

[Alicia · Rating 2 out of 5]

My assumption is that it was more about the illustrations and saying than it was about the story, which was nice and touching, but nothing of real substance.

[Tiffany · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is one I would recommend to the parents in my classroom. The book hightlights when a child grows up, but still needs their mother.

[Amanda Mckown · Rating 5 out of 5]

My five year old sings this song daily! What a fun book for mothers and daughters!!!

[K. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read and bonding story! Every now and then our kids need a reminder that we love them.