Ma Dear's Aprons by Patricia C. McKissack

The artwork, done by the immensely talented Floyd Cooper in oil wash on board, captures both that hard work, and the loving relationship between Ma Dear and David Earl. The narrative is engaging, and emphasizes the back-breaking work that Ma Dear must do, in order to support her family. McKissack created this moving, heartfelt portrait of the loving bond between an African-American mother and son in the American South at the beginning of the twentieth century. On Sunday, the day of no work and no apron, they head to the park after church for a picnic.īased on the stories handed down in her family about her great-grandmother, author Patricia C. But whatever color she is wearing, and whatever she is doing, hardworking Ma Dear is never too tired to tell her son stories, or give him a special treat. Each day has its appointed task - laundry on Monday, ironing on Tuesday, deliveries on Wednesday, visiting shut-ins on Thursday, cleaning houses on Friday, and baking on Saturday - and each day has its different color apron.

Makes sense: aren’t parents and other close family members children’s first teachers? This duality suggests that the book might be best shared one-on-one between a nostalgic adult and a child who’s developed some self-confidence, having learned a thing or two from a parent, grandparent, older relative, or classroom instructor.Ī sweet, soft conversation starter and a charming gift.David Earl always knows what day of the week it is, based on his mother, Ma Dear's aprons. Alternatively, readers won’t fail to note that this small book, illustrated with gentle soy-ink drawings and featuring an adult-child bear duo engaged in various sedentary and lively pursuits, could just as easily be about human parent- (or grandparent-) child pairs: some of the softly colored illustrations depict scenarios that are more likely to occur within a home and/or other family-oriented setting. However, the voice could equally be that of an adult, because who can’t look back upon teachers or other early mentors who gave of themselves and offered their pupils so much? Indeed, some of the self-aware, self-assured expressions herein seem perhaps more realistic as uttered from one who’s already grown. This gentle ode to a teacher’s skill at inspiring, encouraging, and being a role model is spoken, presumably, from a child’s viewpoint. A paean to teachers and their surrogates everywhere.

Ma Dear's Aprons by Patricia C. McKissack