My Working Mom by Peter Glassman
Illustrated by Tedd Arnold
Harper/Trophy - Harper Collins - August 2001
ISBN 0064410331 - Paperback
Children, Ages 3 to 8 / Picture book

Reviewed by Beverly J. Rowe, MyShelf.com
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This story is about a girl whose mom works but has a very special job: she's a witch! At first the little girl is not happy about her mother working, but then she begins to think about her mother's job. Life really is much more exciting when your mom flies off to meetings on a broom.

The charming watercolor and colored pencil illustrations show much more about Mom and her job than the straightforward text relates. The text could apply to any family; it tells us that the kids at school thought Mom was great, while the pictures show her giving a very weird assortment of children a ride on her broom. The children are small versions of a vampire, a Creature from the Black Lagoon, a Frankenstein Monster and others.

There are lots of little bats, a lizard, a green frog and other adorable creepy-crawlies in the pictures that take part in the action and add so much to the enjoyment of the story. At the birthday party, the bats, spider and other critters all wear party hats and, joining in on the fun, they dash everywhere with Mom.

My Working Mom is just out in time for Halloween, but it's not just a seasonal book. Children will want to read it over and over, and will always find new things to laugh at.