Introduction: Just Like Mama, written by Beverly Lewis is about a young Amish girl that wants to be like her mother. It was published by Bethany House Publications, ISBN 0-7642-2507-3. It would be interesting to those who like farm life.

Character: Susie Mae wants to be just like Mama. She follows Momma around all day doing the same things that Mama does. Brother Thomas doubts that she is capable of doing it.

Theme/Plot: The theme seems to be trying to be a good example for others to follow. Susie Mae tries hard but always falls a little short. The story encourages readers to be more like Jesus.

Author: Beverly Lewis's love for the Amish comes from her childhood in Pennsylvania Dutch country. She is a former school teacher who has written over 70 books.

Summary: An Amish child learns the way to do things by following her mother's example.

Quotes: Thomas said,"Aw, Susie Mae there's a whole lot more to Mama than what she looks like and what she does." In her heart she already knew.

I would recommend this book for upper elementary age students. They should be capable of understanding the underlying meaning. ( )

I really like this book because of the illustrations, the language, and the characters. The illustrations are beautifully done and do such a good job of showing what is going on in the story. They are also very helpful in showing the time period that the story is taking place in, the culture, and who the characters are. For example, the illustrations show that the family lives on a farm with cows, pigs, strawberry plants, and a big barn. The illustrations also show that the characters are Pennsylvania Dutch as they dress in traditional clothes like bonnets, 'chore dresses', and wear aprons. The illustrations also allow readers to see the character's emotions, like when they are happy, sad, or startled. I also like the language used in the book. The author wrote in a way that is consistent with the time period and setting of the book as the characters use traditional Pennsylvania Dutch words such as "denki" and "Jah". In addition, the author uses other words that go with the time period and events such as "fancied, paid her no mind, choring dress, quick as a wink, and sure as sunshine". All of these words make the story more realistic and more accurate for the time period and the culture of the characters. Lastly, I liked the characters and thought the author did a good job of making them accurate with the time period, age, and culture. The main character Susie Mae represented what a lot of girls strive to be, "just like Mama". Her want to be just like her mother is common for girls who are Susie Mae's age, as a person's mother is often their role model. Plus, Susie Mae is a typical child as she is always wanting to prove her sibling wrong and thinks things like "whishing Thomas could see her now." The overall message of the story is that we all need to strive to be better people. In addition, we should be thankful for the people in our lives and all that they do for us. ( )

I had mixed feelings about the book “Just Like Mama” after reading it. I liked the illustrations. The illustrations took up the whole page and were very colorful. They accurately depicted what was going on in the story. I also liked the point of view. The point of view is told from third person point of view. Since it is told from third person view, the reader always knows what character is being talked about on each page. An aspect of this book that I did not like was the writing. “Susie Mae scooted a tiny stool and the milk bucket smack-dab under Ol’ Gerta.” I think the words, especially in this sentence, would be hard for children to read. The writing in this book was also extensive. The book was very long, and I think a child would become bored with the book. The big idea of this story is that it is normal for someone to be like their parent. ( )

In my opinion, Just like Mama, is a great children’s book for three reasons. First, the illustrations look like canvas paintings, but when viewing the people they feel so realistic. They are bright and warm, which helps to enhance the mood of the story. The reader wants to see more! Second, the point of view is written in a narrative voice, portrayed by the main character, Susie Mae. Writing in Susie Mae’s perspective helps the reader to feel like they are a part of her story. Finally, the author chooses to implement inner dialogue. Her thoughts help the reader to understand how Susie Mae was feeling. For example, “Susie Mae watched Mama reading the Good Book. ‘Dear Mama, ever so patient and kind!’ she thought.” This short picture book teaches children about the Amish lifestyle and Christianity. The big idea of the story is hard work, dedication, and following in the footsteps of others. ( )

Amish family and their way of life. Comparing Mom to Daughter.