My Super Mom and Her Sidekick Crew by Tameka Mitchell

Illustrated by Barbara Dokic

Published: 2022 by Maternity motivation publishing, LLC

The Art

      Barbara Dokic's art has the perfect balance of detail and whimsy.  The textures of the characters brings out their personalities even though only the little narrator speaks.  Dokic does a great job using the hair and clothes to distinguish each character.  For example: Mom's hair style and work clothes tell us right away that she is a girl boss.  Auntie's long hair and various outfits tell us that she is fashion conscious. 

    The visuals are just as fun as the writing.  The characters motions make since, and the use of of different colors and affects shows how each family members powers work in a way that is easy to understand.  

     I hope to have similar art to this in my future books.   

    The Story

Summery

      A very observant little girl realizes that her Mom has super powers. and she has the evidence to prove it. Soon she realizes that the other members of her family are also super special.  Does this mean that maybe she's super too? 

    

LOVES:  THE MESSAGE

     At first I was skeptical of any little girl picking up on such observations.  After seeing mom do it all the time, wouldn't this be normal? But that's the point!  This story points out to young readers that, wow, my Mom really does do a lot doesn't she?  And that's the magic of this book.  Once a young reader between four or eight digests this story they become aware their mom's super powers too.  

author Tameka Mitchell

    The narrator goes on to point out that Mom doesn't do this all alone.  She has help from her small but close family.   Each member has a super power of their own.  These super powers may or may not be the same in the reader's families but it will get the gears rolling in observing them.  

    

 

 LIKES: THE STORY

    I love mysteries, so the opening with the little girl as a detective caught my attention right away.  I enjoy how the little girl has spotted clues to prove her theory and how she's certain she's come up with the solution.  

    The powers her mom possesses are pretty cool too.  No only does she have the ability to get them ready in the morning, but her powers of positive thinking linger with the narrator throughout her day.  That is something I strive for, as a mom, to try and leave my daughter with confidence that she can pull on even when I'm not around.  

    I also liked that Mom's positivity isn't just for her daughter.  The narrator has witnessed her Mom using this power on others as well.  This is  very moving.  It makes the message double powerful.  It tells the young reader/listener how awesome the Mom character is, and also points out to the adult reader that their little one is watching how you interact with other adults.  A story that can speak to both parents and kids is impressive and more difficult to pull off than many might think.  

    There is no real conflict in a story like this.  It's more of  a love letter to a little girl's family.  But the turn happens when the girl points out that the rest of her family has powers too.  Each power is something that  helps her feel better when she's low or re-enforces her confidence.  In the end she realizes that if her whole family is amazing, then she must be too.  Baby-girl hugs really are the best things ever made.

DISLIKES: How I might have done it differently.

    Really the only thing I could say I disliked about this story is a matter of personal taste.  As a fan of mysteries, and someone trying to write a mystery myself, I liked the premise presented in the synopses. I expected the story to take a slightly different approach and was a little disappointed when it didn't.  

    I expected for the main character to suspect that there is something strange about her mother.  I'd have written it where the mom's powers are ordinary, as shown in the story, but the daughter is collecting and writing them down as though they are extra-ordinary.  Then at the end she reveals that there is only no other way to explain how her mother can do all these things; She must be a real life super-hero.  

    Since that is what I was expecting/hoping for the story came off corny to me the first time I read it.  Then I chewed on it, and read it again with clearer thoughts.  Finally, I had my husband read it to our daughter.  It felt a bit weird reading it to her myself - like i was bragging or something - but you really can't review a picture book unless you've read it to child (or at least listened to it being read to a child).

     Witnessing them talk about how great this mom was, and then equating that to me changed my whole perspective on the book.  

    So this is still a five star story in my opinion and really good read.   Give is a try.

                This story would be a great story for Valentines Day, Mother's Day, or a Mom's birthday bedtime treat.  Or Anytime you want to make you stressed out mom feel special.  And moms really do deserve to feel special sometimes.

    Also, whoever animated the trailer for this book in the YouTube vid above is amazing.  

   You can find "My Super Mom and her Sidekick Crew" at your local library!  At time of recording it's selling on Amazon for about $20.  

        Learn more about Tameka Mitchell and Maternity Motivational Publishing here.  

        Also, you can find out more about the illustrator Barbara Dokic on her Goodreads page here.

        Until next time, I'm Porsche B. Yeary.   Follow me on Twitter @PBandJellyPhish for more updates.  

     I'll see you on the next page.  

                

    

    

        

    



                                











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