Reviews

Booklist

"This companion piece to My Daddy (1998) features a young girl who simply and eloquently expresses the bond she feels for her mother. Each two-page spread comprises a short, full-page painting and a bit of text. … All the pictures feature a whimsicality that may surprise children at first: jungle animals appear in the pictures-giraffes peeking into the mirror, an elephant floating on the lake with the girl. … The rich colorings, joyful mood of the art, and the sweet message will find an audience among both young and old."

School Library Journal

"Paradis's illustrations are joyful, luminous, and surprisingly mysterious. Animals, usually mother-baby pairs, are whimsically placed within the full-page color pictures of the youngster and her mother. These wild creatures provide a sense of the universality of motherhood. The text is simple and straightforward, a contrast to the art, which sets the mood and tone of the book. The unusual cover illustration combines the mystery and comforting potency of motherhood, as the child receives a gift of the moon from her mom, who has climbed a ladder-to-the-sky to get it for her. With words on the left pages and illustrations opposite, this title is an attractive and well-designed choice for picture-book collections."

Kirkus Reviews

"Paradis (My Daddy, 1998) turns her keen eye towards the unique bonds shared by mother and child. Brief declarative sentences describe the myriad activities a mother undertakes from dawn to dusk in the care and nurturing of her child. Yet these succinct statements become an eloquent avowal of a mother's love through Paradis's deft blending of text and enchanting images. … Inserted into nearly every picture is the ethereal figure of a heron, appearing somewhere in each scene much in the fashion of a benevolent guardian, who while nearly hidden, is always present. Cozy and comforting, Paradis's tale is a testament to a mother's devotion and a joy to read."