Mama Dug a Little Den

While I enjoyed reading about all of the animals that den and how and why they do so, I found myself a little bothered while reading the Author’s Note at the end of the story.  Jennifer Ward indicates she used the term “mama” loosely.  Which is important to note, but in that event, why stick with the term mama?  Maybe alternate papa?  Or only represent dens that are crafted by mother animals.  I’m not actually sure why this is bothering me, but the assumption our young readers will come away with is that the mothers create these dens in all cases and Ward is explaining that is not true.  Of the illustrations by Steve Jenkins, my favorite is that of the beaver.  My son kidsplained to me while reading that he thinks the den would really have sticks all around and you wouldn’t really be able to see into it like this.  The picture is showing it with a wall cut off so that you can see inside.  While I already knew that too, it was a nice moment where he could articulate that for me.  On the about the author/illustrator flap from the book cover, it shows the cover art of “Mama Built a Little Nest” which I recall reading for the purpose of review for CYBILS.  I’m interested to go back and see if the same information that fathers help with the crafting of nests as well (as they very well may).  As an unabashed feminist, I see a lot of work being done by the women of the animal world, but I don’t want to take away from the contributions of the gentlemen either.

Title: Mama Dug a Little Den

Author: Jennifer Ward

Illustrator: Steve Jenkins

ISBN: 978-1-4814-8037-6

Published 2018 by Beach Lane Books

This book was borrowed from the public library for purposes of review.