Did My Mother Do That?
What’s inside...
What was I like when I was born? The perennial question receives a fanciful response in a tale that takes an interspecies tour of mothers and babies. Holly loves to hear the story of the night when she was born—but first she needs to ask a lot of questions. Did her mother hatch her out of an egg? Did she carry Holly in her pocket? Maybe she fed her baby mice for dinner? As Holly and her dad rule out one imaginary scenario after another, little listeners will be eager to join in, while learning some interesting details along the way. And they’ll be just as comforted as Holly to hear one final, satisfying tale of a happy and loving human mother on the day her baby was born.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
3-7
Length
32 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
How do you think the baby animal feels when it's with its mother?
What are some things your mother does for you that makes you feel loved?
Why do you think mothers care so much for their babies?
Can you think of a time when someone helped you, like the mothers in the book help their babies?
How do you think the story would change if it was about fathers or another family member?
Tip: Role play these questions
Create a cozy reading environment that invites warmth and closeness, reflecting the nurturing themes of the book. Use expressive voices for different characters to make the story more vivid and engaging. After reading, connect the story to your child’s experiences by discussing how family members care for each other in your home. Encourage your child to draw a picture of a scene where they felt cared for, similar to the illustrations in the book.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Understanding the role of caregivers
Explanation: The story explores various nurturing actions that a mother might perform, exemplified by the mother in the book looking after her child.
Real-World Application: Children can appreciate and recognize the care they receive from their own parents or guardians in their daily lives.
Example Lesson: Empathy and emotional connection
Explanation: Through the bond between the child and the mother depicted in the book, children learn about empathy by seeing how the mother attends to her child's needs.
Real-World Application: Children can learn to acknowledge and respond to the emotions and needs of others in their surroundings, fostering a nurturing and empathetic behavior.
Example Lesson: Curiosity and questioning
Explanation: The child in the book seeks to know about various activities done by the mother, which encourages curiosity and the pursuit of knowledge.
Real-World Application: This can encourage children to ask questions about their environment and everyday occurrences, enhancing their understanding and cognitive development.
Example Lesson: Understanding differences in family dynamics
Explanation: The book demonstrates the unique ways a mother may show love and care, teaching that affection can be expressed in diverse manners.
Real-World Application: Children learn to recognize and respect different family structures and expressions of love among their peers.