My Mama Sings

The author of I Have a Sister--My Sister Is Deaf returns with another warm, upbeat African American family, this one composed of Mama, her son and Great-aunt Gretna, their black-and-white cat. Mama's songs glorify every season and activity, and all her songs and ``sunshine chants'' are ``used tunes'' with a family history to delight her son, the narrator here. The characters move sonorously through Speidel's lush pastel spreads, which beautifully complement the story. The full-spread art shrinks to a page when Mama loses her job and the text describes Mama staying silent in her room. As the boy makes his own supper, then waits with Great-aunt Gretna for the moon to rise, he invents a special song for Mama, ``for some other night when she is fresh and new.'' Later that night he hears Mama sing the new song, an indication to young readers that their contributions may ease rather than increase family troubles, and that their own ``tunes,'' used or otherwise, deserve to be heard. Ages 4-8. (May)