Monthly reviews of books written by Indiana authors are made possible by the Eugene and Marilyn Glick Indiana Authors Awards and Indiana Humanities. Opinions expressed in this review are solely those of the reviewer, not any affiliated entity.
On the front cover, a mommy, slightly rumpled, sits in an overstuffed chair cradling her baby.
A thought bubble floats above her baby’s head, creating an ingenious way to display the book’s title while also offering a clue about the fun that is to come. Right from the start, the introduction of baby as narrator sets up the unique perspective for this amusing picture book.
Do mommies ever sleep?
Baby legend has it, no.
And I’m awake so much,
You can trust me that it’s so.
Adding to the joy, is Howard’s use of bright, bouncy couplets that give it a boost of read-aloud appeal.
Maybe Mommy doesn’t sleep
Because she’s lost her paci?
Or she’s really hungry?
Or maybe she’s too gassy?
As the pages turn and baby continues to contemplate Mommy’s super-human wakefulness, kids and parents alike will delight in the relatable humor that ensues. After a sweet bedtime routine for mama…or is it baby, the momentum begins to shift. The story concludes with a quick glimpse of a tender mommy-and-baby moment followed quickly by a hint of chaos— a truly satisfying ending for all.
As an added bonus, the story is perfectly complemented by a lively, jewel-toned palette that pops with pinks, greens, yellows and blues. Illustrator Karen Obuhanych’s vivid, end-page pattern is hard to miss, and her repeated pattern-placement throughout adds an extra layer—giving both reader and listener something unique to discover.
Kim’s writing, infused with an endearing child-like perspective, is clearly the product of her professional and personal dedication to the children in her life. Do Mommies Ever Sleep?, humming with zippy rhymes and laugh-out-loud fun, is sure to be a winner for young families…especially those adjusting to the often unpredictable schedule of an infant.
Kim Howard has also written Grace and Box, the winner of the 2022 Indiana Authors Award in the Children’s category. She holds a PhD in curriculum studies, and her writing has been featured in outlets such as Scary Mommy and Her View from Home. She frequently speaks at schools, moms’ groups, and libraries. Kim lives in southern Indiana with her family and invites you to visit her at kimhowardbooks.com.
Katie Hesterman is the debut author of A Round of Robins. Her book was a 2019 NCTE Notable Poetry Book and a 2020 nominee for the Bill Martin Jr. Award. Additionally, Katie was a 2020 Emerging Author Shortlist Honoree for the Indiana Authors Awards. She divides her time between the sunny shores of Florida and her historic home in Northeast Indiana, where she and her husband raised their own brood of three. To find out more, visit Katiehesterman.com.
