Mama Zooms

Rating:
Summary: What is a zooming machine?
Review: Cowan-Fletcher, Jane. (1993). Mama Zooms. New York: Scholastic.

This picture book is a positive portrayal of a mother with a physical disability, yet does wonderful fun things with her little boy, even "zoom him to the stars". The father is involved and facilities their pretend activities of a racecar, airplane, and train, even a space ship. The soft, warm pastel illustrations strengthen the emotional warmth of the story. The mother is attractively dressed and coifed-even to the two earrings in each ear. The little boy wears the outfits of the pretend characters. Happiness, excitement, mother-son love exude from each illustration. This book is for children ages 5-8 and could be a bedtime story for younger children. After a long day of "zooming" there is a tender picture of the mother holding her sleepy son. I especially like the picture on the flyleaf- the mother in her zooming machine holding the little boy and the father holding the little boy's hand---a happy family. K

Rating:
Summary: Mama Zooms
Review: I love this book, I am a mother of a beautiful daughter and I am a paraplegic the frist time I read this book I cried. Because right now I am just mommy and someday soon my baby will come to me with questions, and now I will have a way to help her better understand the answers. I highly recommend this book to anyone with or without a disability, children or not, it's wonderful!!!

Rating:
Summary: What is a zooming machine?
Review: I use a wheelchair or scooter, and have a 5 year old son who loves to ride on my lap. I've given this book (I buy them in bunches!) to teachers, friends and libraries so they can begin to understand life and parenting in a wheelchair. Kids love the special treats (like zooming down ramps!) that only Moms on wheels can do! I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 because it mentions how strong Mama's arms are from using the chair; many of us aren't strong and it reinforces the stereotype that people using wheelchairs have superior upper-body strength.

Rating:
Summary: Wonderful
Review: This is a beautiful book about a mother and her son sharing their daily adventures together on her wheelchair. This book has all the magic and exuberence a children's book should contain. You won't be disappointed!