Mummy's kisses by Paula Clark

Ill. by Lisa Stewart. Scholastic, 2012. ISBN 9781 74283 322 0.
Picture book. Mother's Day. A very sweet look at mothers and their babies ready for talking about Mother's Day in the classroom, is offered here. Baby echidna wonders off exploring and trying new things, all the while with mother echidna in the background watching, and being there when things go awry. She is supportive and gives the baby echidna kisses each time it appears back at her feet, learning about things in its environment.
The soft gouache illustrations reflect the colours of the Australian environment and I particularly loved the depiction of the quills of the echidna, the feathers of the duck and the scaly skin of the lizard, amongst others, through collage. Another sweet book to read on Mother's Day to reflect on what mothers do, and have in the classroom any time for children to pick up and read the rhyming lines for themselves.
Fran Knight