Momma, Where Are You From?

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Momma, Where Are You From? was written by Marie Bradby and illustrated by Chris K. Soentpiet. This book has 32 pages and it was published in March 1st 2000 by Orchard (first published January 1st 2000). [1]

Summary

"Momma, where are you from?" a little girl asks. Her mother's reply is filled with rich details as she recounts memories from her childhood. She recalls the cries of the ragman looking to buy worn-out clothes, the tunes of Ellington and Basie, and of the warm family gatherings that took place every Friday night. [2]

Pros

A reviewed by Kirkus was published in one of online site, they explained that this description may be from another edition of this product. "In this lyrical picture book, an African American mother tells her young daughter about growing up in the rural South in a time long ago.... Bradby tells of the good times with and love in every word, while Soentpiet bathes the remembered scenes in a golden light. [3]

Delicia, as one of Good Read's member, wrote her opinion about this book. She stated that the illustrations are very bright and colorful. They are very accurate to the historical times the story is set in. They reveal many details about life during the 1930's/1940's. They are highly supportive of the text. The book is for transitional readers. There are multiple lines of text on each page. The text moves around on the pages. The most challenging part is the black text on very dark colored pages and the white text on black backgrounds. The words are primarily two syllable words. There is a large number of high frequency words. While, SaraLala said the author does a great job creating the feeling of living in that time and place. It's a little nostalgic but also touches on the real issues of inequality (while keeping it from being too intense for little children). This would be a great intro book for the discussion of segregation in the primary level of an elementary school. And Other reader named Nicole explained that she would specifically touch on the theme how people have different heritages and how families are different and how this shapes who we are as a person. The illustrations are on point to what actually happened in that time in history. This narrative has lots of dialogue, and repetition, as well as metaphors. The mother is narrating her childhood in a way of memories. This can be used in the classroom with a unit on family. [1]

Publishers Weekly wrote that this book as nostalgic and sentimental as an old radio show, this lyrical picture book is chock full of family reminiscences. Soentpiet carries through the mood of a cozy household and a neighborhood ""as close as a knit sweater. While the book does not ignore the inequalities of the mother's growing-up years. This tour through memory lane may well inspire readers to make a similar journey with their own parents. [4]

Some positive point of view from Amazon's members were mentioned that all children want to know about their momma and how did she get to how she is today. The trip down memory lane recounts a life lived hard but enjoyed with tons of love. The illustrations are extremely detailed as you can see individual braids. Marie Bradby's poetic language is the perfect medium for the mother's message of pride and nostalgia as she tells her curious child about life in the segregated South. Despite her happy memories of close family, special treats from her mother, and working with her sister, the mother (as a child) is aware of segregation and bothered by it in ways that a child would be. [5]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 Momma, Where Are You From?. Retrieved February 13th, 2021
  2. Momma, Where Are You From?. Retrieved February 13th, 2021
  3. Momma, Where Are You From?. Retrieved February 13th, 2021
  4. Momma, Where Are You From?. Retrieved February 13th, 2021
  5. Momma, Where Are You From?. Retrieved February 13th, 2021