Mars Needs Moms!

What a marvelous morality tale. The lesson is one that grownups also ought to hear. I love that an author who can write masterful adult literature as Lincoln in the Bardo, can also tell a children's story, in children's prose, that delivers the same level of insight into human nature. This book also makes a great graduation gift.

Berkeley Breathed takes us on another adventure that is both wild and touching in his book, Mars Needs Moms!. Young Milo sees his mother as nothing more than a bossy, vegetable-pushing, chore-demanding tyrant, and he doesn't quite see what's so special about her. However, on the night that he witnesses her being kidnapped by martians, Milo learns what it is that makes all mothers so special.

The art in the book, in typical Berkeley style, is as quirky and colorful as ever. And his story, while being perfectly ridiculous, is filled with such heart and soul that anyone reading it can't help but love it. A perfect addition to Berkeley Breathed's ever-growing collection of kids books (that are perfect for adults as well!).

It shows children that there are aspects of their parents they will not like, but how to value them as a whole person. It's funny and uniquely perceptive on a little boy's feelings. The way the story unfolds, and makes the little boy feel empowered at the sight of his mother being attacked, not only makes him feel the need to protect her but also makes him assume a responsibility for all of the ways he was naughty in the beginning of the story.

Having never seen the recently released film, I didn't know what to expect from this book. After reading it, I have found an even-deeper respect for my own mother who has always been there, and I find myself thinking that I, just like Milo, would also follow the martians to the end of the universe for my mom. This story is wonderful for kids and adults of all ages, as it reawakens those feelings that somehow manage to hide deep down inside of each of us. =) I love you Mom!

A short but rather affecting story of how young Milo's opinion of mothers ("thundering, humorless tyrants") changes when his own mother is mothernapped by Martian raidersand taken back to their own planet, because. of course... Mars Needs Moms! Milo stows away, and when he arrives on Mars and gets himself into serious jeopardy, he learns what is so special about mothers in general, and his own mother in particular. A touching ending that brought tears to my eyes, and made me curious about the animated movie of the same title which I suppose is an adaptation of this book.

Milo doesn't understand what's so great about moms; they constantly make you do stuff you don't want to do. But then the martians come to take his mom away. For some inexplicable reason, Milo stows away. He learns the martians have secret plot to get earth moms who can drive around big station wagons to take them to soccer practice and ballet lessons. (Spoiler alert) But as Milo steps off the ship to congratulate the martians on their cleverness, he loses his space helmet. Just as he is gasping his last breath, he sees a beautiful vision of his mom as she gives him hers and says, "I'll love you to the end of the universe" and drops into unconsciousness (this part makes me cry). The martians and Milo now realize what is so special about show more moms. Milo and mom are returned to earth.

This story is funny and touching. Breathed's illustrations have all the wit of his Bloom County cartoons. My favorite is when the martians try to nab a mom with a Starbuck's cup attached to a string. The illustrations are beautiful and look almost three dimensional. This book is appropriate for ages 3 to 8. show less

As a mom, this book made me cry. Milo gets frustrated because his mom makes him eat all his veggies, clean his room, and take out the trash. But one night aliens come to kidnap his mom. He hides in the spaceship and wonders, why would they want his mom. He realizes that the Martians need moms to take them to soccer, cook their dinners, and kiss boo-boos. When Milo stumbles out the space craft and cracks his air tank, his mom comes to his rescue and gives him hers. Grades K - 3.