“A Mom for Umande”

The dictionary defines “mother” as one who either gives birth to or cares and protects like a mother.

Not all who mother are biological mothers. Sometimes single fathers must play the role of mother as well as father. We may find a grandmother, aunt or other caring female in the role of mothering a child who is not their direct offspring.

There are stepmothers, foster mothers, and mothers who've adopted their children.

There is no job that has greater challenges or greater rewards than that of a mother. Children grow up faster than we think, and how we raise them will make all the difference.

Share some great stories with kids about those who care for children, such as the books reviewed below.

Happy Mother's Day – all year long.

The following book is available at many public libraries.“Dear Willie Rudd” by Libba Moore Gray, illustrated in color by Peter Fiore, Simon & Schuster, 32 pages; read aloud: age 6 and older; read yourself: age 8 and older.Miss Elizabeth sat on her front porch, rocking back and forth in her grandmother's rocking chair. She was troubled. She kept remembering Willie Rudd — the wonderful woman who had helped raise Miss Elizabeth.There were so many things Miss Elizabeth remembered, so many things she wished she could say to Willie Rudd.Fifty years had gone by, yet the memories were fresh as yesterday. And even though Willie Rudd had long since passed away, Miss Elizabeth went inside, sat down, and wrote her a long letter.In her letter Miss Elizabeth told Willie Rudd how sorry she was for all the things that must have hurt Willie Rudd over the years, things like not being able to eat together or sit next to one another in the movies or on the bus, and gently assures Willie Rudd that if only they could be together again, how very different things would be.She ends her letter with an important note that she had forgotten to tell Willie Rudd years ago, then sends it to her the best way she knows how.A poignant, loving testimony of trying to right the wrongs of the past, this exceptionally well written and beautifully illustrated book also serves as a tribute to women everywhere who have nurtured and raised the children of others and treated them as their own.

Library: Mars Public Library, 107 Grand Ave., MarsLibrary director: Vincent GadrixChoices this week: “A Mother's Wish” by Kathy-Jo Wargin; “Three Names of Me” by Mary Cummings; “The Boy Who Was Raised by Librarians” by Carla Morris

The following books are available at favorite bookstores.“A Mom for Umande” by Maria Faulconer, illustrated by Susan Kathleen Hartung, Dial, 2014, 32 pages, $17 hardcover; read aloud: age 4 and older; read yourself: age 7 and 8.On a cold winter night at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, a baby gorilla is born. His name is Umande. He cries for his mother, but his mother doesn't know how to take care of him. Caring for Umande becomes the job of the zookeepers.The staff keeps Umande warm, protected, well-fed, and they teach him much of what a gorilla needs to know. But months later, something is still missing — a mother for Umande.At last the team at the zoo believe they have found a mom for Umande. After a long trip they arrive at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium where Umande will meet an experienced gorilla mom, Lulu. Will Umande finally have the mother he needs?Based on real events, this touching love story is absolutely first-rate.“The Baby Tree” written and illustrated by Sophie Blackall, Nancy Paulsen Books, 2014, 36 pages, $18 hardcover; read aloud: age 4 and older; read yourself: age 7 and 8.A young boy learns that a new baby is coming to his family. His parents are very excited, and the boy wants to ask where the baby is coming from, but everyone is too busy to answer. So the boy decides he will ask someone else.The answer he gets confuses him — babies grow on a tree? So he asks his teacher who says babies come from the hospital.This also confuses the boy, as do other answers from other people. When he is thoroughly confused, he asks his mom and dad where babies come from, and they tell him.Clever and humorous, this book provides an age-appropriate answer to the question all children ask: Where do babies come from?Nationally syndicated, Kendal Rautzhan writes and lectures on children's literature. She can be reached at kendal@sunlink.net.

“The Baby Tree”