How to Talk to Moms by Alec Greven, Kei Acedera (Illustrator)

From the Publisher

Sometimes your mom seems like the most wonderful woman in the world. Sometimes you think she is mean and wants to ruin your life.

Really, it is both.

No matter how well you know your mom, chances are she's got a few tricks up her sleeve. Alec Greven may only be ten, but he will set you straight when it comes to figuring out the most important woman in your life.

Tips:

Don't use your shirt as a napkin or a Kleenex.
Don't bring loose wildlife into the house—ever!
Your mom will always love you no matter what.

Children's Literature

This is probably not going to be a book that kids pick up and read over and over. It is a soft lesson that reiterates what most kids know. There are ways to make your mother unhappy (e.g., fight with your brothers and sisters, make messes, hide truths) and there are ways to make your mother happy (e.g., keep clean, be polite, do chores without being asked). There is one section entitled "Excuses, Bribes and the Backfire" that clearly warns of the dangers of making excuses. You will often lose, according to Alec Greven, because mom's are pretty smart. If you say you are sick, then you could end up in bed all day. The illustrations by Kei Acedera are simple black-and-white, cartoon-like drawings. The book's author is only ten, so that may be the attraction. (He actually wrote the book when he was nine.) The pink cover seems like a poor choice for a book that should be aimed at boys as well as girls. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot

Product Details

• Read an Excerpt

Read an Excerpt

How to Talk to Moms

Chapter One

What's Up with Mom?

{ Sometimes you think your mom is mean and wants to ruin your life. }

Sometimes your mom seems like the most wonderful woman in the world.

But sometimes you think she is mean and wants to ruin your life.

Really, it is both.

You probably think your mom is wonderful when she is doing something nice for you, like:

Helping you with homework

Letting you play all day

Reading to you

Taking you out to eat

You probably think your mom is trying to ruin your life when she makes you:

Clean

Rake leaves

Go to bed early

Eat asparagus

Or if she punishes you by:

Sending you to your room

Taking away your games and toys

The mom job is hard.

If you go to the dark side and cause trouble, she has to be tough.

So moms make your life easy and hard at the same time.

That's just the way it is.