From School Library Journal:
PreSchool-Grade 1-- The collaboration of this illustrator and author has resulted in a wonderful story. Preschooler Nikki is worried that her mother will forget her when she goes out to work for the first time, even though Mama spends many moments reassuring her child that she is very special and unforgettable. Disguising herself in her brother and sister's clothing, Nikki continues to quiz her mother as to her identity. The constant testing always results in reassuring dialogue. But when Mama returns home one night tired and hurried, Nikki's deepest fear is confirmed, and she becomes consumed with the thought that her mother has forgotten her. Later, when her mother tucks her in bed, she reassures Nikki that she is still her special little girl. Double-page spreads of oil paintings in soft, muted colors capture the warmth, love, and caring in this African-American family. Kastner's illustrations surpass the detail and mood found in Holcomb's Sarah's Surprise (Macmillan) and Denslow's Night Owls (Bradbury, both 1990). A book with a universal theme to share with all children. --Barbara Osborne Williams, Queen Borough Public Library, Jamaica, NY
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Publishers Weekly:
Mama's new job proves to be a source of anxiety for both parent and child. Nikki's fearful question, "What if you forget me?' is met by her mother's reassurances that "I'd know you if you were wearing two circus tents and sounded like a hoarse nanny goat." Not fully convinced, Nikki quizzes Mama on a list of her favorite things--a game familiar to both of them that always ends with "you're my Nikki." Eisenberg's perky dialogue captures the pair's playfulness as Nikki tests the limits of her mother's love. But when a tough first day yields a tired, cranky mother too worn out to remember her youngest child's favorite anything, Nikki's fears are realized. While depicting the realities of a contemporary household--no father in evidence anywhere--both text and illustration convey a strong, enduring sense of family. Kastner's rich oil paintings, featuring colorfully clad figures against muted backgrounds, communicate a wide range of emotion--from a pouty child sulking under the covers to a joyful mother-daughter reunion dance at book's end. Ages 4-8.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.
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