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Reviewed by Carma Dutra, Picture Book Reviewer for the National Writing for Children Center

Title: Mama’s Milk

Author: Michael Elsohn Ross

Illustrator: Ashley Wolff

Reading level: Ages 4-8

Hard Cover: 32 pages

Publisher: Tricycle Press; Bilingual edition (March 2008)

ISBN-10: 1582462453

ISBN-13: 978-1582462455

Mama’s Milk is wonderful, educational, and entertaining for the picture story book-age and their parents. Michael Ross describes different ways mothers of all creatures nurse their babies. This provides parents a wonderful opportunity to discuss how and why mothers nurse and the benefits of breast milk.

The author begins with a human mother cuddling and nursing her child. “Cuddle little baby warm and tight Mama’s going to feed you day and night.” The story continues with pigs and their piglets, “She’ll fatten you up in a sunny pig sty.”

Every page depicts a different animal nursing their babies and also gives the correct name of each animal and offspring. For example: A Mare and her fold; An elephant and calf. In the back of the book a classification and illustration of each highlighted animal is added with factual statements about nursing practices. Foals nurse every thirty minutes. Kangaroo milk is pink. My granddaughters grimaced with a “Ewwwwww!” giggling all the while. Also, a dolphin calf holds its breath while feeding underwater. Can you imagine?

Michael Ross’ book is a celebration of the beauty of natural breastfeeding and a reminder how much humans and other creatures on this planet earth have in common. The rhyming tone is gentle, comforting and loving. Parents will learn a lot, too, when they read along with their children.

The illustrations contribute greatly to the message by providing a way for young children to learn and identify animals. The two page spreads are illustrated in deep, rich, velvet looking colors giving off a warm glow.

About the Author: Michael Elsohn Ross has worked as a naturalist and environmental educator in Yosemite National Park for over three decades. He is the award-winning author of more than forty books for young people. Over the years he has acquired the nickname “bug author” Visit his website at www.bugauthor.com

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Carma Dutra is a freelance writer and children’s writer. For tips about children’s writing and reviews of award winning books visit Carma’s Window at http://carmaswindow.blogspot.com. Download the free E-Books, Tips for Children’s Writers and Illustrators, and Unite to Write, a compilation of thirteen top expert authors as read on Ezine article directory.