Mama, I’ll
Give You the World
Illust. by S. Saelig
Gallagher. Schwartz
& Wade Books/Random House. Grades 2-5.
Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum Best Book Award
Every
day after school Luisa goes to Walter’s World of Beauty to watch her mama cut,
color, and curl customers’ hair. Mama
works hard and rarely smiles, but when she does, she is the prettiest flower in
all the World.
At the end of each day, she puts her tip money in a special envelope for
Luisa—marked “college.” She wants to
give her daughter the world. But Lisa
has plans of her own. It’s Mama’s
birthday and, for one night, she wants to make Mama smile . . . the way she
smiles in an old photograph in which she is dancing at a place called
Roseland. So Luisa transforms Walter’s
World of Beauty into Roseland, decorating it with roses and collages of Mama’s
customers, who are also in on Luisa’s secret.
It isn’t long before everyone is happily dancing—especially Mama, who is
happiest of all!
“Schotter’s nimble use of alliteration and words with
multiple meanings adds depth and richness to the text. The characters are quirky and distinctive,
captured in all their glory by Gallagher’s dynamic oils. . . . Matter-of-fact about the realities of
life with and as a single parent, while mindful of the benefits of
participating in a larger community, this (is a) tale of a hardworking mother
and a thoughtful daughter. . . These are scenes to savor, snuggled closely
one-on-one, or shared with a group.” Starred
Review, School Library Journal
Named to 2007-2008 Alabama Emphasis on
Nominated for 2008-2009 South Carolina Picture Book Award
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