Me and Ms. Too: A Heartwarming Picture Book about Blended Families and a Librarian Stepmom for Children (Ages 4-8) - Hardcover

Ruby, Laura

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0062894331 ISBN 13: 9780062894335

Publisher: Clarion Books, 2022

Synopsis

National Book Award finalist Laura Ruby and New York Times-bestselling illustrator Dung Ho bring us an unforgettable story of the many different ways in which families are made and the beautiful, unknowable, magical things that hold them together.

For as long as Molly can remember, it's always just been her and Dad. Dad, who likes to splash in the pool, who likes to spin at the park, who bakes the best cookies around.

But that was before Dad married Ms. Too. 

Ms. Too doesn't like to splash. She doesn't like to spin. And she can't bake anything.

“But Molly, you used to love Ms. Too.”

That was before, when she was Molly’s favorite librarian. Now everything has changed. 

But as Molly and Ms. Too are about to discover, maybe change isn't always scary. Maybe change can be the best thing of all.

About this title

About the Authors

Laura Ruby is the Michael L. Printz Award–winning author of many books for adults, teens, and children, including Thirteen Doorways, Wolves Behind Them All and Bone Gap, both National Book Award finalists; the ALA Best Fiction for Young Adults selection York: The Shadow Cipher and its sequels; the Edgar Award nominee Lily’s Ghosts; and the Book Sense Pick Good Girls. She is on the faculty of Hamline University’s MFA in writing for children and young adults program and lives in the Chicago area. You can visit her online at lauraruby.com.

Dung (pronounced Dzung) Ho is a New York Times bestselling illustrator based in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Her work focuses on children’s books. She also loves to draw interesting characters with unique personalities. When she’s not drawing, she enjoys cooking, watching movies, walking, and tending to her plants. Visit her at : https://www.dungho.me/.

Reviews

PreS-Gr 2—Navigating change, especially familial change, is difficult for most children, and this story of a family expanding to welcome a stepmother explores those inevitable growing pains. For as long as she can remember, Molly's family has been a party of two, just her and her father. Formerly Molly's favorite librarian, Ms. Blue marries her father and is dubbed Ms. Too. The addition of Ms. Too is not welcome to Molly, who was perfectly content with the way things were: messy, lively, and fun. Over time, the two characters find their middle ground, bonding over baking and trips to the zoo. This work stumbles in its use of librarian tropes: a love of cats, a need for order, and a dislike of spontaneity. Ms. Too sloughs these off by the end, but for the majority of the title, she fits a bit too neatly into a box to feel genuine. Ho's illustrations are vibrant and detailed, looking as though they've been plucked from a Pixar storyboard, an aesthetic that is both relatable and appealing. This title will find an audience with those families experiencing similar circumstances. VERDICT Growth and change take time, especially in families, and readers will find familiarity and comfort in the journey.—Sarah Simpson

Edition details

• Publisher: Clarion Books
• Publication date: 2022
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0062894331
• ISBN 13: 9780062894335
• Binding: Hardcover
• Illustrator: Ho Dung
• Number of pages: 32