This is a great little book that kids can read and use to understand why some people have to be quarantined away from us to keep us safe and healthy.

When Mom's Away is a timely children's book focusing on life with Covid-19 from the point of view of a little girl. Her dad is a stay at home parent, while mom is a doctor and must quarantine in the garage to keep her family safe. It shows all the things that families are dealing with right now, such as virtual learning, staying away from grandparents, not playing with friends, wearing a mask and not seeing a parent for a few days. I hope that a story like this will help children see that everyone is dealing with similar things and that it won't last forever. I liked that this was not what is often portrayed as a traditional family. There are many families where dad is the caregiver who is home with the children and mom works, it is also a multi-racial family which is nice to see as this is another realistic family we don't see often enough in children's literature. When my granddaughter and I read this she talked about her mommy living in the basement while she was making sure she didn't have "the covid" but she was okay now. A good story for families to read to their children.

When Mom's Away, by Layla Ahmad, and illustrated by Farida Zaman, published by Second Story Press.

This is a sweet story about a little girl whose mom is a doctor during the pandemic. Like many essential workers, her mom moves out of the house (into the garage) in order to keep her family safe while she is working long, intense days at the hospital with Covid patients.

This family is diverse--the daughter is biracial--and I am a fan of the cute stay at home dad & daughter relationship, and the way they talk about her superhero mom. The story encourages gentle conversation about the importance of doing our part to keep others safe, not just ourselves.

The illustrations depict masks and a lot of our current day-to-day, but the bright colours and vibrant community ensure it's not scary.

Recommended ages 4-8

Themes: Empathy, family, sacrifice, and community.

Thanks to Second Story Press and #netgalley for the digital ARC. Enjoy!

(This review will be added to https://canadianpicturebookblog.wordpress.com/ on publication day)

When Mom’s Away by Layla Ahmad is a relevant story for young children who may find their ‘normal’ not so normal due to the many changes and effects of the current pandemic. Nicely illustrated and easily understandable. #WhenMomsAway #NetGalley

Thank you NetGalley for this extra cute book! I love how it features a multi-racial family, with a stay-at-home dad and Dr. Mom. Unfortunately, the pandemic still isn't over, and kids around the world will identify with quarantine, learning at home, and missing a 1st responder parent. Even after schools open again, this will still be a great book to read in the classroom.

This is a story about a little girl whose mother is a doctor.. Since we are in a pandemic, the mother must quarantine in the garage to keep our family safe. This is an emotional read. I like how the little girl and her father bond The mother is a superhero in her family's eyes. I really enjoyed this book. I recommend it to all children right now. I give this inspirational book five stars.

When I started reading this book, I did not expect to get so emotional. The part with the children banging pots and pans brought tears to my eyes.

Layla Ahmad did a wonderful job reminding us of how important front-line workers are during this pandemic and how their lives are affected in more ways than one. It describes their sacrifices in a simple and empathic way, and it reminds us that it truly takes a village, and we rely on one another. This book is current and necessary now – but it also helps children understand when a parent is away, for whatever reason. The message is transferrable and universal, and I am sure it will help children whose parent travels for work or are away for health reasons process their emotions.

I was away from my son for 9 months while undergoing cancer treatment and my husband did a terrific job taking care of him – the daily video calls and the not so healthy diet – that was our lives and I wish I had this book in 2019! Shout out to Farida Zaman, her illustrations are beautiful, inclusive, accurate (that kitchen illustration is so on point!!) and detailed. I loved the small touches, such as the characters wearing masks.

I am adding this to my personal and work library! Cannot wait to share this with my children.

Thank you, Layla Ahmad, Second Story Press and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of When Mom’s Away in exchange for an honest review!

#NetGalley #WhenMomsAway

How do you explain the global pandemic to a child? This book is not attempting to do that. What it is attempting to do is explain why doctors, specifically the child's mother, has to be away so she doesn't infect her child and her husband.

It is all told in very simple language, and the child does understand that what her mother does is important, so makes the effort to do things, such as stay home, or to shop for a neighbor, and to wear masks when out in public.

And although I would wish that we wouldn't need a book like this, unfortunately, the pandemic doesn't appear to be going away anytime soon.


Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.

This was cute, and would be a great read for children whose parents are frontline workers. The illustrations and words were simple but easy to understand.

This 24 page, timely children's book focuses on life with Covid-19 from the point of view of a little girl whose mom is a doctor and must quarantine in the garage to keep her family safe. The reassurance of such a book to remind our children that they are not the only ones going through such disruptions with virtual learning, staying away from grandparents, wearing a mask and not seeing a parent for a few days, is a powerful one. I couldn't find anything stating if the author or illustrator identify as Muslim (I know, I know, assumptions based on names is rather pathetic), and there is nothing religious in the story, but the book shows a diverse family and as this pandemic rages on, kids and parents will benefit from feeling less alone and sharing this resource I hope is a benefit.

The book starts out with the little girl learning that her mom is going away, well not really away, but will not be in the house with her and her dad. That the virus isn't slowing down and her mom has to go help people.
The family of three then sets up the garage to make sure mom has everything she will need when she comes home from work. A bed, a little table, even a picture of the three of them.

The dad calls the mom a superhero and gets the little girl on board with helping mom as she helps others. They wash their hands to a special song, they wear masks when they go out, they shop for a neighbor, and try to use things to make dinner that they already have.

The book then articulates that mom is a busy doctor and dad cooks often. The little girl plays games with her dad and video chats with her mom feeling proud that she is making her mom's job easier.
Every morning the dad does the little girls hair before virtual learning begins, and every evening she waits by the window to wave to her mom. The little girl misses her teacher, friends, and mom.

The little girl and her dad go grocery shopping for Grandma and Grandpa and deliver the groceries to them outside with masks on as they wave from afar. Sometimes before dinner the neighbors all stand outside banging pots and pans cheering for all the heroes coming home.

When her mom returns from quarantine, the little girl asks if the virus is gone, and the mother says no, but that things are getting better. When her mom thanks her for doing such a good job while she was away, the little girl says, "No problem, Mom. That's what superheroes do!"

I love that the concept of super heroes is presented as real people on the front line doing their jobs even when it requires tremendous sacrifice. I also like that all of us working together to curb the pandemic is also heroic work.

I love that it shows a mom capable and professional and loving, as well as a father loving and capable and supportive. Yes, she likes how mom does her hair better, but it shows competency from both parents, which sometimes in books is lost when it makes one parent the brunt of misguided humor.

I don't know if years from now the book will be as relevant, but certainly children today are living this story and will relate to the characters. I think children in preschool and up will enjoy the illustrations and storyline.

Families across the country are adapting to the evolving changes in daily life caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Most schools, places of public gathering, and nonessential businesses are closed, and parents and other caregivers are faced with helping their families adjust to the new normal. This situation is even more difficult for families whose members are part of health systems. Members, who are exposed to risk daily to help others.
And it's challenging to explain to children why all this is happening. What is pandemics? Why are we wearing masks? Why are schools not working? Why some people go to work and some don’t? Explaning all this to children whose parents are health professionals, as well as to all the other children is not easy at all. To be able to understand the importance, as well as the need for the noble work of the health workers, as pillars of society is something that we should teach our children from a very early age. People who separate themselves from their loved ones so that they can help others should be treated as heroes. And for that very reason, this picture book is a real treasure. Because of its adapted language structures, as well as vivid illustrations, it serves as a great tool to help children understand the whole situation. To get acquainted with the weight of the work responsibilities of health professionals, as well as the privilege of being part of that profession. And what additionally impressed me is the versatility of this picture book to adapt to more professions, so children can understand that sometimes parents have to travel or separate from their loved ones because of work responsibilities. That their parents do not abandon or neglect them, but simply are needed elsewhere. All the information that is inserted in the masterfully thought lines is perfectly balanced and adapted to the needs of the children. The examples that are so vividly illustrated perfectly show how people who risk themselves for the good of others should be respected.
Definitely a book that is a fantastic choice for every family, for every child in this world. A picture book that will delight you with its effective simplicity and will help you explain the current situation to your little ones. My only regret is that it was not released earlier.

I received a free ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book was cute. I feel like it was written at the beginning of pandemic, because things aren't as strict now. It could easily be used for any child that has a parent travel for work and needs to feel brave because their parent isn't there. The pictures are bright and colorful.

This book is about a Superhero... a doctor who works on the front lines during the virus pandemic! She has to leave her family and go into quarantine using a cot in her garage. She must separate herself from her loved ones so they will not be in harm's way.

Her little girl rightly feels sad by their detachment. Dad picks up the missing pieces in their lives and they spend quality time together. She homeschools online, both work on keeping themselves safe by washing their hands and wearing their masks and they shop for their neighbour who can't go out, just to name a few activities that they busy themselves with.

Luckily mom and she get to video chat which brings much happiness to them both. Sometimes before dinner the neighbourhood stands outside and clap for her mom and all the other superheroes just like her. Some bang on pots and pans and even sing their praises as these amazing workers go by. When her mom finally arrives home the reunion is truly joyous! Hearts are reunited and the good news is that there aren't as many sick people and things are improving thanks to her mom's dedication and hard work.

The illustrations are fantastic and the message is inspiring and full of hope. This book was written for such a time as this and I highly recommend it.

A timely story that helps young children process the strange world we find ourselves in during the pandemic. This book will help children whose parents work on the front line in health care, and other children understand the sacrifices others have made to ensure that everyone has a chance to fight this virus.

The author balances information appropriately. Not too much to scare and not so little that it paints an unrealistic picture of the world. Kids need to understand there are different types of superheroes. Those we see in the movies with strength and power, doctors and nurses who use medicine to combat villains, and everyday people like us who are heroes by staying home, keeping distance, and wearing masks.

This book might have a short shelf-life, but I think it will help many kids in this dark time before our world gets back to a new normal.

This would make a good addition to preschool classrooms and libraries.

Mom is a doctor and a fighter.
It's sweet book that sends out a message to us. We can't forget those doctors and nurses who sacrifice their lives and try to safe others.