Recommended Picture Book: Read for Me, Mama

Title: Read for Me, Mama

Author: Vashanti Rahaman

Illustrator: Lori McElrath-Eslick

Publisher: Boyds Mills Press; Feb 28, 1997

Topic: Reading, Literacy, Mother & Son relationship

Age: 6 - 10

Opening:
On Thursdays, Joseph and his classmates went down the hall to the library. They sat at special library tables, on special library chairs, and they listened to stories. Joseph loved Thursdays.

Summary:
Joseph loves to read. He wants nothing more than to have his mother read to him. But she can't. When his mother is finally forced to confront her inability to read, Joseph is right beside her on journey to literacy.

Resources:
This story is about celebrating reading. Here are some activities that can be used in the classroom to celebrate reading.
Reading together: an activity guide for families.

Why I like this book:
A very sweet tale of a boy who loves to read books and wants more than anything for his mother to read to him. This story tackles the issue of adult literacy in a compassionate, warm and sensitive way. I enjoyed the love and connection between the mother and son. He is so sweet and caring and the mother, despite her busy schedule spends a lot of time with him. I really felt their bond. They are a low income, single parent home and as in many families like this, reading and education is not a priority for the parent. Mama has to work to take care of her child and put food on the table. Which is very unfortunate because not only does the parent miss out, it is devastating for the child's development and ability to learn. I felt really bad for the mother in this book but I also adored how much she loved and cared for her son. So much, that she faced her challenges head on and learned how to read.