Picture Book 24

A.    Author: Muriel Stanek

B.     Title: Don’t Hurt Me Mama

C.     Illustrator: Jill McElmurry

D.    Readability:ages 4 and up

E.     Genre: Diversity

F.      Subgenre: Fiction

G.    Theme: Abuse,

H.    Primary and secondary characters: Mama and Little Gril

I.       Award(s) date of publication: N/A

J.       Publishing company:Albert Whitman and Company

K.    ISBN number: 978-080716898

L.      Brief summary: Mother and the girl live together, they live alone since their father left them. They did not have enough money to stay in their house so they had to move to an apartment. Before they moved they used to go to church and learn how to be kind. She felt safe and happy. Once her father left, they did not go anymore and mom said nobody cared about her. The little girl would say she cared, but her mother wouldn’t listen. Mama couldn’t find a job and got mean, she hit the little girl. The little girl felt scared and alone. One day the little girl came home and she couldn’t find her. A nice women named, Sarah Hawkins and her dog Sam, the  two lived upstairs. The little girl waited till dark, then she saw her mama walking up the street, she asked where she was but she wouldn’t answer. Her mother fell asleep on the couch. The little girl awoke the next morning, she asked for breakfast but her mother only yelled to get her own. The little girl tried to make cereal but she spilt the glass of milk, and she said she was good-for-nothing like her father. Her mother then grabbed a belt and hit her. Her mom cries and said I didn’t mean it, don’t tell anyone. The teacher at school asked if she was okay, and when she did not respond he sent her to the office. The nurse asked what happened and the little girl wouldn’t tell After prying she began to cry and say she didn’t do anything bad but her mother hit her anyway. That same day a social worker had come to see her mama, once done with school she and mama went to the community health center together. The social working will help her get a job and make her feel better and take care of her better. The little girl stays with Mrs. Hawkins while her mother goes to the center to help others and herself with problems. The story ends with the little girl happy and they go to church again.

M.   Description of how you would use the book with students: This book can be used for an individual or group lesson about abuse. It seems to become more common in households today. If we encourage our students to report abuse it may help save one or two of the students. This can also be used in the guidance room as a key book to help students realize if their parents get help, they will have better lives.