Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1485901 in Books
• Published on: 1997-02
• Original language: English
• Binding: Library Binding

From Publishers Weekly
Patrick Edward's mother is a monster--literally. An impish-faced woman experiencing a decidedly bad hair day and needing a manicure, "Monster Mama" lives in a cave behind the family house. In addition to her roaring and spell-casting skills, this unique parent bakes cookies, drives Patrick Edward to school in bad weather and nurses him with "the sweetest touch in the world" when he is feeling poorly. But when three bullies ruffle Patrick Edward's feathers with a crack about Mama, the boy gets his chance to prove he's his mother's son--roar and all. Rosenberg creates a light mood with her matter-of-fact description of strange circumstances. Any thrill here is derived from curiosity rather than gruesomeness, and youngsters will find comfort in the oddly tender mother-child relationship that permeates the story. Gammell's trademark electric palette and airy, spattered paint technique make for illustrations that crackle with childlike energy. Except for a couple of portraits, many of the scenes are abstract, with some indiscernible shapes and obscured faces. The effect, however, is not distracting, and gives the text a sense of universality. Ages 4-up.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal
Kindergarten-Grade 2-- "Patrick Edward was a wonderful boy, but his mother was a monster. She lived in a big cave at the back of the house." She may be a monster, yet she has a sweet touch where her son is concerned. She teaches him lots of things and is always there when he needs her most. The nicely paced text maintains the balance between the offbeat and the commonplace. Despite the book's brevity, the characters of both Patrick Edward, a self-sufficient, fearless little boy, and his mother, who is shy and retiring except when roused by necessity, emerge clearly. Gammell's cheery palette and loose, fluid watercolors succeed admirably in creating an atmosphere of mystery and charm. Figures emerge out of multilayer swirls of color, sometimes defined, sometimes just impressionistic, yet recognizable, shapes. Mama is shape-shifting monstrous, but the bright shades of green, yellow, blue, and purple, and the generally benign expressions, make her interesting rather than threatening. The story has humor, suspense, and just a hint of magic to beguile readers. It also has universal appeal as it portrays a warm, supportive relationship between a son and his unique, yet loving, mother. --Karen James, Louisville Free Public Library, KY
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Kirkus Reviews
Mama may be a ``monster'' who lives in a cave in back of the house and frightens neighbors with her moods, but she also paints (her true calling, it seems), gardens, bakes cookies, and has ``the sweetest touch in the world'' when her son is ill. Like her, Patrick Edward is fearless: When bullies taunt him (``Your mother wears army boots'') and tie him up, he bursts his bonds and breaks their baseball bat. His mighty roar summons Mama, who chases the bullies home to make a new cake to replace the one they've just destroyed. The cake is shared; Mama gives Patrick Edward a hug (``I am your mother, even if I am a monster--and I love you''); and the admiring boys depart, remarking, ``Your mother is something else.'' Sendak's Wild Things embody a child's inner life; here, parents' mysterious, often scary vagaries are personified by an extraordinary mother who is unpredictable, even fierce, but also creative, nurturing, and the source of her child's strength. Gammell's vibrant, freely rendered paintings magnify the ambivalence: clouds of dark lurk behind pervasive splashes of brilliant color; unkempt Mama, with hairy arms and pointy, multicolored fingernails, is almost terrifyingly bizarre; but the sturdy boy with his shock of tangerine hair is clearly a secure little person who can handle whatever life brings. This is not for the literal-minded: those who read the thematic title as an oxymoron may also feel challenged by the gorgeous, if unconventional, art. A splendid book that reaches deep into truth, not all of it cozy, and comes up smiling. (Picture book. 4-8) -- Copyright ©1993, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.