A sweet twist on the age-old “yo mama” joke, celebrating fierce moms everywhere with playful lyricism and gorgeous illustrations, Your Mama is an essential Mother’s Day read.
Yo’ mama so sweet, she could be a bakery. She dresses so fine, she could have a clothing line. And, even when you mess up, she’s so forgiving, she lets you keep on living.
Heartwarming and richly imagined, Your Mama twists an old joke into a point of pride that honors the love, hard work, and dedication of mamas everywhere.
A Kirkus Prize Finalist
Kirkus Most Joyous Picture Book of 2021
School Library Journal Best Picture Books of 2021
2022 NCTE Notable Books in Poetry
2021 Nerdy Book Club Award
Virginia Center for the Book Great Read 2021
★ "A lyrical, spirited picture book that takes the old 'yo’ mama' joke and cracks, snaps, and pops it into an ode to motherhood. Using a vibrant tattoo motif, colorful, joy-infused artwork, and playful, melodic words, Ramos and Alcántara’s winning picture book celebrates motherhood at its most inspirational.... Ramos conjures jubilant scene after scene with deft language and sprinkles of Spanish, and this tale’s more sublime moments ('Your Mama a Brainiac—mo’ betta than any app') simply shine. Similarly, Alcántara’s art represents motherhood as a model of ideals and mind spun for modern times, both indebted to and limited by the specific type of mother of color depicted here. Overall, it’s a celebration that’s invaluable and needed."
–Kirkus, STARRED review ★ “This snappy tribute celebrates the fierce awesomeness of sweet, strong, funny, woke, brainiac mamas. Using rhythmic stanzas that swing...the bright, vibrant illustrations, with text in a playful retro-tattoo style, pop off the pages....This joyous celebration makes a perfect read-aloud for Mother's Day—and every day.”
–Booklist, STARRED review ★ “In a glowing tribute to mothers...this mama brings verve to everything she does…. An essential purchase, this contemporary high-spirited salute to motherhood is a warm and welcoming valentine to family and love.”
–School Library Journal, STARRED review "Your Mama is an exuberant ode to supermoms everywhere...Alcántara’s illustrations are as lively as Ramos' text...Humor and happiness fill every page...Your Mama hits the perfect note of sweetness."
–BookPage "Ramos reconfigures a well-known joke format into an uplifting, rhythmic exultation of motherhood in this bouncy debut....Parents and children alike will appreciate this thoroughly contemporary portrait of familial love."
–Publishers Weekly "A dynamic picture book affirmation of love, adoration and acknowledgement for mothers as both caretakers and individuals....Alcántara's vibrant, tattoo-inspired illustrations boldly complement Ramos's text. The collaboration is an energetic display of admiration for the hard work, love and dedication of mothers."
–Shelf Awareness