Whenever I’m at the library and I see several books by the same author, I want to take a look for myself. What makes this particular author so prolific? What are the secrets to their success?
While in the children’s department I noticed several books by Barbara M. Joose. I would like to review some of those for you today.
The first is a spin-off of the best-selling book “Mama, Do You Love Me?” also by Joose. Set in the wilds of Africa, we get a taste of the climate and surroundings while we see a young tribal boy ask his father, “Papa, Do You Love Me?” which is the title of the book. The father tells his son how very much he is loved, answering all his son’s questions patiently. He assures his son that he will always be protected from the heat of the sun’s rays, that he will always have enough to drink and he will be defended against any harm. This is a tender insight into the loving heart of a father, inspired by the time Joose spent in Kenya and Uganda.
Next is “Better With Two.” Laura’s next door neighbor is an older lady named Mrs. Brady. Mrs. Brady has a very old dog named Max, and they keep a tight schedule. Every morning at ten sharp, they go for a walk, and then they have tea. Laura joins them from time to time and enjoys their friendship.
One day she sees Mrs. Brady sitting on the porch swing all alone. Max has died and Laura is heartbroken. She cries in her mother’s arms. “Crying is always better with two,” her mother tells her.
Over the next few days, Laura brings little gifts for Mrs. Brady to cheer her up, but nothing seems quite right. Mrs. Brady just sits there, rocking, looking very lonely.
One morning Laura has an idea. Remembering what her mother said, she goes out and sits down by Mrs. Brady, helping her to rock the swing. Then she pulled some cookies out of a sack she brought with her so they could have tea. Mrs. Brady still missed Max, but she had someone to grief with, and that made all the difference.
Last for today is “I Love You the Purplest.” Max and Julian are two brothers who love to be competitive with each other. Tonight they are going fishing, and they must dig some worms. When they’re done, they bring their cans to Mama. “Who has the most?” she is asked, and she replies that Max has the liveliest worms and Julian has the juciest.
Next they row their boat to their fishing spot, and they ask their mother who is the best rower. She tells them that Julian took the deepest strokes and Max stroked the fastest.
Throughout the day, the boys seek reassurance that they are loved, and she praises their own unique talents without placing one above the other.
The theme that runs consistently through the books of Barbara Joose is that of parental love. The children are held and cuddled, they are praised for their good behavior and their accomplishments, and they develop deep, meaningful relationships with their parents. I found these books very inspirational as they encourage me to be a better mother and to try to instill more self-esteem into my own children.
(“Papa, Do You Love Me?” was published in 2005 by Chronicle Books and was illustrated by Barbara Lavallee. “Better With Two” was published in 1988 by Harper and Row, and was illustrated by Catherine Stock. “I Love You the Purplest” was published in 1996 by Chronicle Books and was illustrated by Mary Whyte.)
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