Module 6 - Bedtime for Mommy

Summary
Bedtime for Mommy is a picture book in which a little girl is trying to tuck her mother into bed and get her to go to sleep.  However, mommy has different ideas.  She wants just a few more minutes to finish her work, read several bedtime books, and wants water to drink before falling asleep. 

Impressions

This book is a very cute picture book in which the roles of child and parent are reversed.  The pictures are colorful and add to the story.  The text is not traditional; it is in speech bubbles from the characters.  That adds to the design of the book.  It is a cute book that can be used with kids who hate going to bed.

 

Reviews

This is a delightful story of role-reversal, in which the child has the job of putting her parents to bed. Taking into account the usual jobs in the nighttime routine, Mommy is bathed, brushes her teeth, clothes for the next day are selected, and a story is read. Mommy, of course, begs for five more minutes, a second book, and has specific instructions on how far to crack the door open. This leads to bedtime for Daddy. The illustrations really set off this cute book, telling much of the story. When the daughter is presenting clothing options, Pham captures Mommy's reactions beautifully. The facial expressions throughout are priceless, and the final illustration showing the parents peeking in at a sleeping daughter round out this tale. This very visual story will appeal to beginning readers as well as parents and librarians looking for a fun bedtime read-aloud. Recommended. Spencer Korson, Media Specialist, Bullock Creek High School & Middle School, Midland, Michigan

 

Bedtime for Mommy. (2010). Library Media Connection, 28(4), 64.

 

Wry role-reversal tale finds a freckle-faced little girl cajoling her mother into bed. After granting her mom "five more minutes" at her desk, the tot gets her into the tub, helps her pick out tomorrow's outfit and reads her a book (just one--Anna Karenina--because "it's getting late"). A glass of water and a kiss later, this determined little girl is ready for the next task: "Daddy! Time for bed!" Rosenthal's text consists entirely of dialogue in speech bubbles, which makes way for Pham's ink-and-watercolor vignettes to milk the situation for all it's worth. Mommy's body language and expressions are so thoroughly childlike despite their entirely adult proportions that both kids and adults will find themselves giggling. It's a game played out in families everywhere and executed very well here. (Picture book. 3-6)

 

Bedtime for mommy. (2010). Kirkus Reviews, LXXVIII(6) Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/915719687?accountid=7113

  

Suggestions

This is a great book to have students discuss role reversal.  The student could give examples of various positions that could be changed.  For example, what would happen if a student was the principal and the principal was a student?  What would the implications be?

References

Krouse Rosenthal, A. (2010). Bedtime for mommy. New York: Bloomsbury USA Childrens Books.

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_R9fGfcZ2kDA/SwF1iO- PuKI/AAAAAAAADLw/wx3eHDXDwjQ/s1600/rosenthal