Mama, Do You Love Me?

A young girl explores just how unconditional her mother’s love is in this classic tale written by Barbara M. Joosse and illustrated by Barbara Lavallee. Set in the frozen Alaskan arctic, the story incorporates Inuit details in costuming and environment, like parkas and mukluks, ptarmigan eggs, and umiaks and ermines. With queries ranging from innocent accidents like breaking eggs, to mischievous deeds like dousing the lamp, to outlandish scenarios like becoming a polar bear, a young girl explores the enduring nature of her mother’s love, which in every situation, is unabated and never-ending, though with a refreshing, realistic frankness that makes the tale enduring. “Then, Dear One, I would be very angry. But still, I would love you.” Joosse’s setting is original, and the progression from sincere to extreme hypotheticals makes the story development engaging. Her dialogue demonstrates an admirably honest and vulnerable relationship between mother and child, while Lavallee’s colorful, exaggerated illustrations give the story an emotional, dynamic aspect. Characters feature expressive faces—note the mother’s gasp as her daughter trips, for example—and dynamic postures—like the daughter craning her neck to look up at her mom, who stands high above with her hands on her hips.