WINNER: Congratulations to scottie!
Disguised as a children’s book, M.O.M.* (Mom Operating Manual) is actually light-hearted entertainment for all parents with a sense of humor about themselves and their loved ones. Written by Doreen Cronin (Click, Clack, Moo) and illustrated by Laura Cornell (Big Words for Little People), this picture book is appropriate for children, but its humor will be more highly appreciated by adults.
The premise is that the M.O.M. will assist children to achieve peak performance from their personal Mom for many years to come. Children will enjoy the book because of its illustrations; they are clever, funny, and giggle-inducing – especially the example of a Malfunctioning Mom. (“If you see one, escape is the only option.”) Kids will also get a kick out of the instructions given about feeding and watering your Mom (“anything found under seat cushions is unacceptable”), outdoor use (“you can take them almost anywhere”), and bath night (“never use cold water or household soap on your mother”). For the Moms – and those who know them best – the book and its illustrations will tease out the silliness and laughter from parenting realities that are usually seen as less-than-enjoyable.
This is not a book whose audience is wholly adult; it’s not a Go the F*ck to Sleep or All My Friends are Dead. Buying those books quickly, based on the child-friendly illustrations, could cause some trauma if given to young children! On the other hand, M.O.M. can absolutely be shared with children, even young children. However, its jokes about moms, their shortcomings and their abilities, will resonate much more deeply with parents. Mothers in particular will recognize themselves in many of the pages. And hopefully, seeing a lighter-side of reality in print will provide much needed and therapeutic relief.
Watchung Booksellers has M.O.M. in stock, and you can order it from the Montclair Book Center or Words Bookstore in Maplewood. Thanks to the generosity of Simon & Schuster, someone can skip that step! We have a copy of M.O.M. (Mom Operating Manual) as well as an accompanying Mood Magnet for one lucky reader.
Keep reading for more details…
To enter, tell us about a time you or your parent “malfunctioned” in a humorous way. One person who replies to this post by 11:59 pm EST on Thursday, October 27 will be chosen at random to receive a copy of M.O.M. (Mom Operating Manual).
No purchase necessary. Starts Tuesday, October 25, 2011, 7 am EST and ends Thursday, October 27, 2011 at 11:59 p.m. Open to U.S. residents ages 16 years and older. Void where prohibited.
Good luck!
photo of the author and illustrator courtesy of Jennifer Lee Photography.
since no one has responded yet, I will. A few months ago I was out and about with my toddler and couldn’t understand why he was walking weird the whole day. Finally I was at the supermarket and a woman came up to me and said “your sons shoes are on backwards” That was pretty embarrassing. I let him run around all day with his shoes on the wrong feet. Now I check every time I put them on to make sure they are on right.
My mother would get so mad at my sister for not cleaning her room up, that she would throw away whatever she didn’t clean up. One day she threw away a bunch of her comic books. They later proved to be very valuable. Not so humorous to my sister or mother, but I found it to be pretty funny.
I was running late, exhausted and just in a rush- I dressed my four year old for school quick and half in the dark, upon walking her across the parking lot to her class I realized, I had put her clothes on inside out and backwards and completely forgotten to brush my own hair. I’m sure this is when the “she’s overwhelmed” rumors started, lol…
Usually while driving I have at least one of my three young sons in the van. On one rare occasion when I was headed alone somewhere, I heard myself exclaim loudly to no one, “Look! There’s a train!”
I love this book!
I had just gotten home from a long day at work and my 5 year old son asked me if we could go on a bike ride. I was so exhausted so I told him “I’m sorry but mommy worked straight through today” meaning I didn’t have a lunch break. I was so tired that I didn’t realize I was talking to a 5 year old boy but he cleverly responded “tomorrow can you work crooked so we can go on a bike ride?”
I was waling out of my then day care with my 2 year old twins, and another family with 2 kids was coming in the same door. I dropped something and then proceeded to drop the F bomb. Right in front of my kids, those other kids and their parents.
I am a new mom as of 9/29/11, and many have given me advice about taking care of a new little boy. With all of the advice I thought I was well prepared for the simple things. One day at the doctor’s office for his 2week check up, my husband and I were changing him before we left the office. As soon as I opened the diaper there was a little stream came from his diaper right to the top of his head. My husband and I both grand the diaper and closed it, with a loud WOW! We both laughed. I said at least he has good aim, he didn’t get his face. I learned from then on to go a little faster. I think I can enter any contest for diaper changing at this point.
While preparing my three girls’ for school with breakfast and their lunches in the morning (which of course would be much better done the night before), I typically give them a few different choices. One morning I had three different requests which I dutifully and rapidly fulfilled, completing the task just in time to leave the house for the buses. Upon the girls’ return in the afternoon, they revealed that two of them had not finished their lunches (not unusual) and the third had not touched her lunch at all! Yes, I had accomplished preparing three different meals, but in the mad rush that incessantly presents itself at the last minute, I had unknowingly given each child a meal other than the one she requested! Ahhhh! All that work for nothing! The girls thought it was quite comical, however.
Thanks for the chance to win this clever and entertaining book! I’m looking forward to reading it.
lmarston AT yahoo DOT com