In Our Mothers’ House (Polacco)

                                                                         

Polacco, Patricia. In Our Mothers’ House. New York: Philomel Books, 2009. ISBN 9780399250767

Patricia Polacco’s In Our Mothers’ House narrates the story of a girl and her family with illustrated pages and vivid descriptions portraying the distinct personalities of both her mothers, Marmee and Meema, and of her younger siblings, Will and Millie. She shares many of the happy memories with her parents and siblings and later their experiences visiting home again as adults with children of their own.

Critical Analysis

Polacco has created an ideal family in her picture book, In Our Mothers’ House. Memories are shared by the narrator, including the adoption of each of her younger siblings and the joy their arrival brought. Her siblings and mothers are described so that readers feel they can know each character, including Marmee the organized list maker and Meema the sewer and cooker. Picturesque scenes from the family are reminisced upon including the family working together to make gnocchi, build a tree house, and host their annual block party. Beautiful imagery describes the scenes such as the dinner parties where the family “never measured words” or the time when their mothers wore dresses for the first time and “floated down [the stairs] like shimmering swans.” Even difficult times, such as when the family came down with the flu are described as joyful memories when “they touched my face and wiped away my tears” and the illustrations show family wreathed in smiles while cuddled in bed.

Mrs. Lockner, the disapproving neighbor, is the only negativity that seeps its way into the pages. Mrs. Locker glares at the family when they trick-or-treat, won’t let her children sleep over, and storms over to the family during a block party and announces “I don’t appreciate what you two are!” Many younger audiences will not understand why Mrs. Lockner is so angry. The characters never directly address the problem, beyond Meema saying that Mrs. Lockner “is full of fear” and “doesn’t understand us.” Adults sharing this book would find this an apt opportunity for discussion.

In Our Mothers’ House is filled with exuberant, detailed illustrations that demonstrate the family’s love for each other inside of their full, cozy home. The illustrations are exuberant in their joy, perhaps to the extreme, except for the dampening frown of the family’s neighbor, Mrs. Lockner. The pictures display the diversity of the family members, from the chocolate brown skin, and tight, curly hair of the narrator, to the peachy skin and vibrant orange hair of the youngest child. During the block party, the diversity of the neighborhood is celebrated with images of sushi brought by the Yamagakis and hummus brought by the Abdullas. The illustrations beautifully capture the mothers as they age gracefully throughout the book, displaying their softened bodies and creased faces.

The book ends with the mothers passing way, but their memories being celebrated by their children and their own families in the same house once shared together.

Review Excerpts

Booklist: “this portrait of a loving family celebrates differences”

School Library Journal: “This gem of a book illustrates how love makes a family, even if it's not a traditional one.”

Connections

Read some of the other books by Patricia Polacco.

Polacco, Patricia. Chicken Sunday. ISBN 9780698116153

Polacco, Patricia. Babushka’s Doll. ISBN 9780689802553

Polacco, Patricia. Thank you, Mr. Falker. ISBN 9780399257629

Polacco, Patricia. The Keeping Quilt. ISBN 9780153052125

Read other books that celebrate non-traditional families.

Downey, Roma. Love Is a Family. ISBN 9780060393748

Newman, Leslea. Mommy, Momma, and Me. ISBN 9781582462639

Richardson, Justin. And Tango Makes Three. ISBN 9780689878459

Simon, Norma. All Families are Special. ISBN 9780807521755