Day 31: Are You My Mother?

This book came to us as a well-loved hand-me-down, and it didn't take long for me to see why it had endured so much wear and tear.  Are You My Mother? is an adorable story about a baby bird who sets out to find his mother, who left the nest shortly before he hatched in search of food for her baby-to-be.  Having never seen his mother, the little bird has no idea what she looks like, so he mistakes all kinds of creatures for his mother along the way:  a kitten, a hen, a dog, a cow, even a plane and boat.   Determined to find her, he carries on until he sees what must be his mother.   He runs up to the big thing exclaiming, "Mother, Mother!  Here I am, Mother!"  But the big thing just says, "Snort!"  (The thing is really a steam shovel.  Silly bird!)   In the end, the Snort ends up saving the day and baby and mother are happily reunited.  While this storyline might not sound like anything exceptional, this book is great for a few reasons.  First, it uses simple, repetitive language throughout, which makes it a wonderful story for budding readers.  My son loves being able to recognize words on a page and anticipate what is coming next, and I love seeing him engage with the text of a book so enthusiastically.  Of course, he is most excited about arriving at the Snort at the end, but he easily recites parts of this story each time we read it with a big smile on his face.  The illustrations are simple, use only a few colors, and are not overly busy -- another reason why I think this book appeals to young readers.  I also love this book because the little bird reminds me of my son -- independent, curious, and determined.  This is another great story that is bound to be a classic in our house for years to come.