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Mama, Do You Love Me?: 10th Anniversary Commemorative Edition Review

There are a few things that are universal. These things are so primal that they are a paradigm across cultures.... actually across species. The unconditional bond of love that exists between mother and child is one of those paradigms. The essence of this book is - All mothers love their children unconditionally and all children go through insecurity when it comes to love and acceptance.

Portrayed in this book is an Inuit mother and her daughter. The Inuit are the indigenous people of Alaska, Canada and the Arctic, basically the northwestern belt of the North American continent.

The child asks her mother a simple question, `Mamma, do you love me?' and the mother replies in the affirmative. The child is still not satisfied with a simple `Yes dear'. Also the mother-child love is neither quantifiable nor objective. So the child proceeds to ask her mother how much and for how long she loves her. The child is still not satisfied with her mother's answers. So she gives her mother scenarios. The child asks her mother if she would love her inspite of the intentional and accidental mischief on the child's part. The book ends with the mother swinging the child and saying, `I will love you forever and always, because you are my Dear One.'

When you are a primary care provider for a young child, there is a melting pot of emotions involved. There is love, happiness, pride, anger, frustration, doubt, sadness, guilt, a sense of responsibility ... enough material to write volumes of books. The thinking that children must be happy ALL THE TIME mires parents many a times. This leads to guilt when the child is unhappy. What parents must realize is that children learn by pushing limits, by testing and that they need to experience all emotions within a safe and loving environment.

Like in this book, when the child breaks ptarmigan eggs by accident, the mother tells the child that she is sorry that the eggs broke, but she understands that this was an accident and reassures the child that she still loves her. The child asks the mother what the mother would do if she extinguished the lamp by purposefully throwing water on the lamp. Imagine the cold, snowy, unforgiving Arctic where people are at the mercy of nature's elements. Fire is simply not a luxury, it sometimes defines the existence of human life. In this situation if the child pours water on purpose, it is perfectly okay to tell the child though you love her dearly, this behavior is unacceptable and that you are VERY angry. It would make the child sad and insecure, but one simply cannot indulge the child just to keep the child happy. By telling the child that you are angry, you are giving the child a life lesson.

Every book has one element that appeals to its readers. What appealed to me is, `one does not have to act happy to make their child feel loved. You can be truthful to your child and still make him/her feel loved.'

Both the author and the illustrator have worked hard to capture the essence of the Inuit culture. Living in the snow means that sometimes you are cut off from civilization for long periods of time and that you must learn how to sustain yourself. You can see that the mother is making dolls and weaving baskets. What you need, you learn to make from scratch with what little scrap that is available!

I could go on an on, but I will be giving out everything and strip you all of the pleasure of making your own discoveries. So check out this book and tell us what you think about it.

Mama, Do You Love Me?: 10th Anniversary Commemorative Edition Overview

With more than a million copies sold worldwide, this universal story of a child testing the limits of her independence demonstrates that the special love between parent and child is a bond that transcends all boundaries of time and place. This tender story is now available in a 19th Anniversary Commemorative Edition with a cloth cover and limited edition, frameable print.

Mama, Do You Love Me?: 10th Anniversary Commemorative Edition Specifications

This exceptional board-book tells a beautiful and timeless story about a daughter's attempt to find the limit of her mother's love. Barbara Lavallee's exquisite illustrations of Alaska, with their exaggeratedly foreshortened perspective and rich tones of violet, blue-gray, and gray-green, tell of an easy declaration ("I love you more than the raven loves his treasure, more than the dog loves his tail, more than the whale loves his spout") that is pushed, and pushed, and ("What if I put salmon in your parka ... and ermine in your mukluks?") pushed. There's a quiet joyfulness in both the antics of the Inuit mother and daughter and in the animals--including a polar bear and a musk ox--that the daughter imagines she might become. A charming story for mothers and daughters of all ages. (Baby to preschool) --Richard Farr

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Customer Reviews

Never too old - Susanna Rodriguez -
My mother bought me a copy of this book when I was a teenager and we were having a rough relationship. At 35 I still cherish it. It's a beautiful reminder that no matter what you do a mother's love is unfailing.

Another hit! - Graciela G. Schweiger - Waverly, NY
I was first introduced to this author when I read Papa, Do You Love Me? It touched me and I knew I would purchase more of her books for my grandkids.

my favorite childhood book - ashley of the city - san francisco, ca
My dad went on a business trip to Alaska when I was little and brought this book back for me. When I moved away to college, I brought it with me. I still read it!
This book has the most interesting and lovely illustrations. It teaches kids about Alaskan animals and traditional life.
I will forever buy this book as a gift for every baby I know.

*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Aug 26, 2010 00:36:05

Children's Books

Wednesday, August 25, 2010