Recent Picture Books About Families

One Little Bag, A Piece of Home, and Me & Mama are lovely books about families, relationships, and ordinary traditions.

One Little Bag: An Amazing Journey by Henry Cole. Scholastic, 2020, unpaged.

A wordless picture book about a humble paper bag is more about family relationships than recycling. Beginning with a tree in the forest, the life of a single bag reflects a boy’s relationships through the years. First with his dad and new friends at school, then later an attractive young lady with similar interests who adds an extra red heart to the outside of the bag. In every scene, the bag proves useful and adds significance to the family.

At the end, the author shares his own experience re-using the same brown lunch bag for three years following the first Earth Day. An effective example of stewardship.

Overall rating: 4.5 out of 5

A Piece of Home by Jeri Watts, illustrated by Hyewon Yum. Candlewick, 2016, unpaged.

Moving from Korea to West Virginia is an easier adjustment for the narrator than for his grandmother. Home, language, culture, and her beloved mugunghwa shrubs are left behind, and while the boy learns English and slowly makes friends, he longs to see his grandmother happy again.

Through the kindness of teachers and schoolmates and the discovery of a familiar flower, new relationships are built and joy is restored. A sweet story of loving one’s neighbor.

Overall Rating: 4 out of 5

Me & Mama by Cozbi A. Cabrera. Simon & Schuster, 2020, 30 pages

Reading Level: Picture Book, ages 0-4

“…I want to be everywhere Mama is.”

In the tradition of Shirley Hughes, Me and Mama shows the joy of a little girl spending the day with her patient and affectionate mother. Rainy days are better when you spend them with someone who makes time for you in ordinary ways that matter. This is an encouraging reminder for parents who feel busy and whose work is interrupted, and for days that might be disappointing…sometimes what you need is a good breakfast, a walk in the rain in brightly colored boots, and stories at bedtime.

Me and Mama works because it is a book that shows “I love you” rather than waxing poetic and eloquent. A Caldecott and Coretta Scott King honor book, it fits a tradition of cozy picture books.

Overall Rating: 4.5

Also at Redeemed Reader:

• Reviews: We’ve reviewed books by Henry Cole on Redeemed Reader before. You can find a list of them here.
• Reflections: Speaking of Shirley Hughes, we appreciate her books on childhood.

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