Mars Needs Moms

Milo isn’t sure that mothers are special. His mother makes him eat broccoli and take out the trash. After Milo gets sent to bed without dinner, he yells at his mother. That night, Martian raiders kidnap his mother. He’s not sure why, but he chases after her. Will Milo be able to save his mother from the Martians? Will he learn what’s so special about mothers?

Mars Needs Moms is a beautiful story about a mother’s love for her son. The fast-paced plot focuses on Milo and his mother’s relationship. Younger children will relate to Milo, who just does not understand his mother.

The full-page pictures are beautiful and humorous. In the beginning, when Milo is upset with his mother, the illustrations portray her as unfriendly. For example, when Milo thinks mothers are “giant, summer-stealing, child-working, perfume garden goblins,” the illustration shows his mother clad in an overly large hat that hides her face, and she is holding garden tools.

Even though Mars Needs Moms is a picture book, the story is intended to be read aloud to a child, rather than for the child to read it for the first time independently. The alliterations and descriptions make the story fun to read aloud. Since there is little text on each page, the story is a quick read making it an excellent bedtime story.

Younger readers will want to read Mars Needs Moms over and over not only because it is an excellent story, but also because the fun illustrations do a wonderful job of bringing Milo’s struggle to life. The Martians trying to kidnap a mother are adorably funny, and the conclusion explains why moms are “the most marvelous treasure.” Mars Needs Moms blends illustrations and text into a beautiful story that shows the importance of mothers. If your little reader enjoys reading about space, Mousetronaut Goes to Mars would be another excellent book to add to your child’s reading list.

Sexual Content

• None

Violence

• Milo’s mother is kidnapped by Martians. Milo “peeked around the door to see his mother being carried past the bathroom by three Martians the color of jelly beans.”

Drugs and Alcohol

• None

Language

• None

Supernatural

• None

Spiritual Content

• None