Size matters, according to this groundbreaking picture book — and in a good way. Here, a young boy describes his large mother in caring terms — her softness, her warmth, how comfortable and reassuring it is to sit on her lap on the bus. But when she goes on a diet “because of what people say,” he becomes a picky eater himself to show her how foolish she’s being. This remarkable book offers a charming and timely picture of a special relationship between a loving mother and the little boy who understands that people should be appreciated for who they are. Luc Melanson’s vibrant illustrations add resonance to this sweet story.
Children's Literature There is nothing wrong with the thesis that everyone should be loved for being exactly who and what they are. It is also important to be clear that it is not acceptable to belittle others because of their weight. However I cannot endorse the way this concept plays out in Olivier Ka's story about a young boy who is virtually obsessed with keeping his mother exactly as she has always been—so large she takes up two seats on the bus. After boasting about her size, the young narrator gets upset when his mother goes on a diet. He becomes a picky eater to convince her to go back to eating as much as she wants; his ploy is successful and he concludes: Everything about my mama is big—her body, how much she loves to eat, her love. I want her to stay that way. The suggestion that a mother's love would be reduced if her appetite or size did is specious at best. Obesity is approaching epidemic proportions in the western world—and the evidence is that if this child wants his mama to stay healthy and alive to love him, supporting her in dealing with her weight problem is the best course. Reviewer: Mary Hynes-Berry

Ka, Olivier, 1967-; Melanson, Luc; Mixter, Helen

Toronto: Groundwood Books

Douglas & McIntyre

Canada - English Language, Canada

1st English ed, Toronto, 2009

PS, 2009

A little boy tells us proudly how big and wonderful his mother is -- from how soft she is, to how loving she is, to how wonderful it is to sit on her lap on the bus. When his mother goes on a diet, "because of what other people say," he is outraged and becomes a picky eater himself to show her how foolish she is being. There can be no doubt that for this child, his mother is great just the way she is.
This book is a remarkably life-affirming story about a young child who knows that a person should be loved for being just exactly who and what they are.

28 unnumbered pages : 29 cm
Unhappy that his mother has gone on a diet due to the comments of others, her loving son comes up with a clever plan to turn things around in the hopes of restoring his mother to the full-figured beauty she was meant to be in this tale about self-acceptance and respect
Translation of: Une maman tout entière
Translation of: Une maman tout entiere

My Great Big Mamma is a remarkably life-affirming story about a young child who knows that a person should be loved for being exactly who and what they are. Luc Melanson's warm, expressive illustrations perfectly complement Olivier Ka's extraordinary, loving tribute to large mothers and delicious portrait of a mother/son relationship

2023-06-28