We Help Mommy

This is a sweet book, but it really plays on the stereotypical 1950s ideals of the working husband / father and the stay at home wife / mother with the 2 kids, a boy and a girl of course. If you are into the nostalgia of the White neighborhood with the picket fence, when one income could sustain a household, and the woman's place was in the home, and children were seen and not heard, this will do the trick.

All four of my kids, 2 boys and 2 girls, loved this book time and again. The youngest, five-years-old, still does. My old copy was even missing the last page and they loved it. I finally couldn't stand it and bought a new copy for my youngest so I could read the last page!

Though I lost my copy about twenty years ago, We Help Mommy made such an impression on me that I can still remember the text almost word for word. Martha and Bobby like to help with cooking, laundry, and even the dishes. Their mother shows her appreciation for such good little helpers, and there is still time for simple pleasures like creating miniature pies and playing in the sandbox with the children next door. This book has Eloise Wilkin's usual lovely pictures. The story has themes of respect, family, and the warmth and coziness of home life. It depicts a simpler time and there isn't a even a hint of the holier-than-thou political correctness that messes up more current fare. I love this book!

I absolutely love this book and so does my two year-old daughter! It helped me realize just how much my daughter can participate in the daily chores. Children love to take part in the cleaning and it empowers them to beable to help. Eloise Wilkins is a classic to be treasured. Her illustrastions are just so sweet and simple.

My mother used to read this book to my brothers and me when we were little, and it has always been one of my favorites! The illustrations by Eloise Wilkin are timeless and innocent; the children's faces are so endearing. The story is all about how children can help their mommies clean house. It always made me feel so excited to be mommy's helper after reading that book. If you have a toddler or preschooler at home, this book is a must-have!