Just Like Mama

While the title implies a girl copying her favorite and nearest role model, this story is in fact a tribute to Mama's singular awesomeness, particularly when it comes to addressing the narrator's needs. “She sets out cups and saucers for my teddy bears and me,” writes Newman, “then shows us all the proper way to pour a pot of tea./ Nobody has tea parties just like Mama.” Gorton's pen and marker illustrations, an intriguing mixture of girly and bold, are cropped in a way that conveys the effusiveness of the narrator's feelings: her admiration and gratitude can't be contained by the margins. Ages 3–8. (Apr.)