Mama, I'll Give you the World
by Roni Schotter; illustrated by S. Saelig Gallagher
When's the last time you did something nice for your Mama? Huh? How about for her birthday? What, you ask, flowers aren't enough? I write, I call ...
Well, little Luisa has you beat hands down. Her Mama works at Walter's World of Beauty transforming the neighborhood divas into raging beauties, or, uh, at least gussied-up versions of their middle-aged selves. But Mama wears a tired expression, now that Papa's out of the picture. We never learn why, but then it's probably none of our business anyway.
Walter's World is Luisa's world, where she does her homework, creates playful pictures of the customers and deviously plots to put a smile back on Mama's face. No spoilers here – the plot's about as predictable as can be, but Schotter has such lovely phrasing and vivid descriptions, you don't mind traveling down this oft-visited street where a happy ending lives.
Gallagher used oil paints, which makes the compositions seem older, yellower and faintly cracked, emphasizing Mama's fading youth and diminishing bloom. Exaggerated features, particularly noses, give everyone a comic air, but their softly padded frames and round, shining faces could only belong to a generous, kindly bunch. Only Mama is slender, but she looks more shopworn than chic.
Between Gallagher's loving details and Schotter's artful descriptions, I knew the World so well, I found myself firmly in joyful Luisa's orbit.
Rating: *\*\*\*\
This book made me tear up a bit at the end. It is so sweet. Yes, the plot is predictable, but the lively illustrations and set-up make it more than one would expect. An excellent book, thanks for giving it play.
Posted by: MotherReader | October 25, 2006 at 08:38 AM
My pleasure. I also got teary, but I'm a sap.
Posted by: Anne | October 25, 2006 at 03:51 PM