Elvi and Nicholas are friends. Nicholas wants to
know which of Elvi’s two mums is her real
mum. She tries to explain all the wonderful things that she shares with
both mums and starts to list them so Nicholas can understand.
Her clues turn
out to be unhelpful as they apply to both mums. As the list gets longer, each
mum’s qualities and abilities increase. They are on an even par. When Nicholas
voices certain frustration at his question not being answered the way he
expects, Elvi has an even more embellished reply.
Until Nicholas asks, don’t both your mums do that?
Exactly! is
the reply.
This delicate and beautifully presented story
carries the theme of love; the emotion that children understand best. The collaboration
between two debut creators, Bernadette Green and Anna Zobel, has proven a
successful one.
Zobel’s illustrations project happiness and
contentment; curiosity and friendship. Her arrangement of images is creative
and eye-catching.
The doors are thrown open. Detailed scenes of daily
activity are realistic and allow the reader to see a bigger picture by entering
Elvi’s family’s life. Common objects are scattered everywhere for kids to
discover. The images of the exaggerated descriptions that Elvi gives to
Nicholas are brilliant. Colour choice is
perfect. I loved the use of blue for these instances.
Illustrations are made using Copic marker and
layered digitally.
Title:
Who’s Your Real Mum?
Author:
Bernadette Green
Illustrator:
Anna Zobel
Publisher:
Scribble Publishing, $24.99
Publication
Date: 31 March 2020
Format:
Hardcover
ISBN:
9781925849493
For
ages: 5+
Type:
Picture Book
