My Mama, by Annemarie van Haeringen (translated by Bill Nagelkerke) is a tender representation of all of the things a Mama is and does, but from the perspective of her child. We were introduced to this sweet title by Eloise Ginty, Literacy Specialist at Readeo.com.
Like us, Eloise is a grandmother who takes her jobs very seriously. Fortunately for the rest of us, her search for a way to improve reading aloud with her long-distance grandchildren landed her an unusual job as a Literacy Specialist for Readeo.com. Readeo is an online application whose mission is to create connection between children, books, and the grownups who love them both.
You are going to love the sweet illustrations in this delightful book.
A loving Mama elephant and her charming elephant baby with stars on his pants lead us through this survey of childhood memories as he shares the things his Mama loves to do. There’s just enough playful adult humor built into the text to make this a great choice for entertaining both the child and the adult (a mark of a superior children’s book is that it has the capability to be beloved by any age group).
This one also adds in a blend of parental wisdom as we are given a few hints about how Mama elephant handles unexpected mischief, and how her baby feels about it. While it’s a charming story for a child, a mother will find it is a thoughtful and poignant portrayal of how really difficult it can be to be a Mama some days. And by extension, it helps us all think about all of the good reasons Mamas have to celebrate their role.
My Mama Extension Activities – Try one as a Mother’s Day Gift
Whether you read this title in-person or remotely, you can extend the book reading experience with some fun extension activities and together, you and your grandchild can create a Mother’s Day keepsake for the Mama who has made both of your lives so wonderful.
1. What do you love about your Mama?
After reading My Mama together, interview your grandchild about some of the things he loves about his own Mama. Give a prompt or two from the book:
- My Mama enjoys ________
- My Mama always _________
- When the weather’s good, we ___________
- My mama is never angry, but when she is, _____________
Type out the statements, cut them out, and attach them to your grandchild’s own illustration of his Mama
2. My Mama Handprint Keepsake
Using one handprint from Mama and a second from a child, create this fun handprint keepsake for a Mama you love. We’ve provided a free printable for you to use. Just print out the page that includes the quote on a sheet of heavy paper, then add your own handprints. 
- Download a copy of the free printable
- Mix a little bit of black paint acrylic paint with white to make gray.
- The grownup dips her left hand into the paint (or brush paint onto your hand on with a foam brush). Press firmly onto the paper, pressing down onto the back of your hand with the opposite hand so the palm presses into the paper.
- Next, do the same with the child’s right hand. If your child or grandchild is squeamish about highly sensory activities like finger painting, just trace around the outside of their hand lightly with a pencil and fill it in by dabbing with a paintbrush.
- Let the handprints dry well.
- Using a dark marker, add ears, a bristly tail, and elephant toes, if you wish.
- Add a swipe of white paint on the larger handprint for a tusk.
- If desired, write in names below each handprint and add today’s date.
*Try this remotely by mailing copies back and forth between grandma and grandchild. Grandma will make her handprint on 2 separate pages, then mail both to the grandchild. The grandchild will add his handprint and mail one copy back to grandma. This way, there will be a matching set for each of you.
3. Shake Some Stars Off Your Pants – a New Bedtime Tradition
At bedtime, Mama elephant and her little guy have a sweet family tradition you could start in your own home. Shake the stars off your grandchild’s pants before bedtime.
- Hide a piece of black construction paper under the bed that you have prepared in advance by poking holes through with a toothpick or pin.
- Just before you tuck your grandchild into bed, shake the stars off his or her pants.
- Once the child is tucked in and the lights are out, show your grandchild their own private constellation and see how the light shines through the dark sky of the piece of paper.
Let us know in the comments if you can think of any other fun extension activities to try as you read My Mama together!