LaCour, Nina. Mama and Mommy and Me in the Middle. Juanita Kaylani, Illustrator. Candlewick. 03/2022. [32]pp. Picture Book. GRADES Preschool – 3. HIGH ADDITIONAL. Trade $17.99. 978-1-5362-1151-1.
A brown-skinned little girl fits “perfectly in the middle” between her light-skinned Mama and her brown-skinned Mommy, but then Mommy must go away for six days. Counting the days one by one, the little girl adjusts to her Mommy’s absence, finding comfort in daily rituals with her Mama, who smooths the way as best she can. Juanita’s mixed media illustrations are warm and engaging, perfectly reflecting both the deep family love and the “missing.” LaCour genuinely portrays a child’s sense of unease at a major disruption in life’s routines. Warm, loving, inclusive and diverse, this sweet picture book about a multiracial family should be welcome in all collections.
Nora Hale — Independent