Review of "Seeing Mommy All Day Long"
Posted: 10 Mar 2023, 14:28
[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of ""Seeing Mommy All Day Long"" by Vincent A. Pendarvis.]
The adorable boy on the cover of this children’s book is Alex. He is the oldest of three siblings, and his mother is a single parent who relies on him to help with his brother and sister. His first day of third grade is today, and he is starting at a new school. Alex is nervous and wishes his mom could go with him, but she must go to work. So, after breakfast, a hug, and a kiss, she sends him off and gives him some motherly advice.
Seeing Mommy All Day Long by Vincent A. Pendarvis tells the story of Alex’s first day and the various people he encounters who, oddly, have the same advice for him as his mother gave that morning. The author presents an intentional statement by including only female adults in this book. In his bio, Pendarvis shared that his mother died when he was Alex’s age, but thankfully, his father provided him with a stable childhood. Because many fathers are absent in single-parent households, he deliberately excluded male figures from this story. I appreciated his disclosing that objective because the absence of an adult male was noticeable.
The illustrations by Hatice Bayramoglu made this read a delight. Every full-page drawing featured expressive young faces interacting respectfully with each other and often with adults. I especially liked the brightness and intelligence that shone in their eyes.
The pictures reinforced the courteous exchanges found throughout the story. For example, whenever Alex addressed a grown-up, he included “ma’am” in his response, a charming nod to this diminishing trend. And when he ran into a neighbor and her young children, he greeted the toddlers with the same warmth and respect that he gave the adult. I enjoyed absorbing the love and playfulness present in this community.
The only negative aspect of reading this well-edited book was the amount of text on several pages. The target audience spans a wide range. Although the protagonist is a third-grader, his younger siblings and neighbors could attract younger readers as well. It is a picture book but has text suitable for readers ages 7 through 9. The amount of wording on several pages was overwhelming: I noted five pages where text filled the entire side. Before reading those passages, I took a deep breath; I believe they would intimidate younger readers as well. I wondered if listening to those segments would be less overpowering, so I read one of the long pages aloud and recorded it. As I listened to my recording while viewing the corresponding illustration, it reinforced my initial impression. Interesting details added depth to Alex’s life, but it was too much to absorb at once. I would suggest paring down the story. Other instances of repetition, such as the number of people Alex encountered who echoed his mother’s advice, could also be revisited.
I rate Seeing Mommy All Day Long 4 out of 5 stars. Despite the occasional lengthy text and repetition, this adventure was a fun day with Alex and his friends, teachers, and neighbors. I recommend this book to anyone, especially readers ages 4 through 9, who would enjoy a well-mannered children’s story.
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"Seeing Mommy All Day Long"
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
The adorable boy on the cover of this children’s book is Alex. He is the oldest of three siblings, and his mother is a single parent who relies on him to help with his brother and sister. His first day of third grade is today, and he is starting at a new school. Alex is nervous and wishes his mom could go with him, but she must go to work. So, after breakfast, a hug, and a kiss, she sends him off and gives him some motherly advice.
Seeing Mommy All Day Long by Vincent A. Pendarvis tells the story of Alex’s first day and the various people he encounters who, oddly, have the same advice for him as his mother gave that morning. The author presents an intentional statement by including only female adults in this book. In his bio, Pendarvis shared that his mother died when he was Alex’s age, but thankfully, his father provided him with a stable childhood. Because many fathers are absent in single-parent households, he deliberately excluded male figures from this story. I appreciated his disclosing that objective because the absence of an adult male was noticeable.
The illustrations by Hatice Bayramoglu made this read a delight. Every full-page drawing featured expressive young faces interacting respectfully with each other and often with adults. I especially liked the brightness and intelligence that shone in their eyes.
The pictures reinforced the courteous exchanges found throughout the story. For example, whenever Alex addressed a grown-up, he included “ma’am” in his response, a charming nod to this diminishing trend. And when he ran into a neighbor and her young children, he greeted the toddlers with the same warmth and respect that he gave the adult. I enjoyed absorbing the love and playfulness present in this community.
The only negative aspect of reading this well-edited book was the amount of text on several pages. The target audience spans a wide range. Although the protagonist is a third-grader, his younger siblings and neighbors could attract younger readers as well. It is a picture book but has text suitable for readers ages 7 through 9. The amount of wording on several pages was overwhelming: I noted five pages where text filled the entire side. Before reading those passages, I took a deep breath; I believe they would intimidate younger readers as well. I wondered if listening to those segments would be less overpowering, so I read one of the long pages aloud and recorded it. As I listened to my recording while viewing the corresponding illustration, it reinforced my initial impression. Interesting details added depth to Alex’s life, but it was too much to absorb at once. I would suggest paring down the story. Other instances of repetition, such as the number of people Alex encountered who echoed his mother’s advice, could also be revisited.
I rate Seeing Mommy All Day Long 4 out of 5 stars. Despite the occasional lengthy text and repetition, this adventure was a fun day with Alex and his friends, teachers, and neighbors. I recommend this book to anyone, especially readers ages 4 through 9, who would enjoy a well-mannered children’s story.
******
"Seeing Mommy All Day Long"
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
) memories. Alex's impeccable manners made me enjoy this story even more.