ERIC ED378977: We Don't Wear Aprons Anymore: An Annotated Bibliography of Working Mothers in Children's Literature.

26 Pages·1994·0.3 MB·English

by  ERIC

DOCUMENT RESUME
IR 055 352
ED 378 977
Miller, Margaret B.
AUTHOR
We Don't Wear Aprons Anymore: An Annotated
TITLE
Bibliography of Worling Mothers in Children's
Literature.
South Dakota Univ., Vermillion. Learning Resources
INSTITUTION
Library.
PUB DATE
94
NOTE
26p.
Bibliographies (131)
Reference Materials
PUB TYPE
MFOI/PCO2 Plus Posta
EDRS
Annotated Bibliographies; Books; *Childrens
DESCRIPTORS
Literature; Dual Career Family; *Employed Women;
Family Characteristics; Family Structure; Females;
Literature Reviews; *Mothers; One Parent Family;
*Parent Child Relationship
ABSTRACT
A review of children's literature found relatively
few books for elementary school children depicting working
mothers--an average of about eight per year out of the thousands
published for children annually. The working mothers who were
depicted were generally shown in a positive manner and were
well-adjusted to employment. Children in the stories had positive
attitudes about their mothers working, and had good relationships
with them. This bibliography annotates 85 realistic books about
working mothers; it provides a bibliographic citation, appropriate
grade levels, a brief annotation, the mother's occupation, and the
type of family configuration. (SLD)
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*
Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made
*
from the original document.
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WE DON'T WEAR APRONS ANYMORE:
AN ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY OF
WORKING MOTHERS IN CHILDREN'S LITERATURE.
Dr. Margaret B. Miller
Learning Resources Library
University of South Dakota
Vermillion, South Dakota 57069
Fall 1994
"PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE THIS
MATERIAL HAS BEEN GRANTED BY
Margaret Miller, Ph.
D.
TO THE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES
2
INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC)."
BEST COPY AVAILABLE
2
WE DON'T WEAR APRONS ANYMORE: AN ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY
OF WORKING MOTHERS IN CHILDREN'S LITERATURE.
Currently in the United States 69 percent of all
working. Of these, 16.8
women from the ages of 18 to 64 are
million are working mothers and over half of them have
children under the age of 6 (Statiscal Abstract of the
Given this preponderance of working
United States, 1993).
mothers, I expected to find the aapiction of working mothers
After all, don't we
in children's literature a common thing.
want our sons and daughters to grow up thinking that it
is
Surprisingly, there are not
okay to have a working mom?
After looking at
that many books depicting working mothers.
the last fifteen years of children's literature, I found
only 117 books with working mothers for children in the
grades K-6. That averages out tD be only about 8 books a
children each year.
year out of the thousands published for
depicted
On the positive side, most of the mothers were
in a positive manner and were well-adjusted to their
The children in the stories, on the whole, had
PTIpluyment.
positive attitudes about their mothers working and good
I found 35 different
relationships with their mothers.
occupations and different family configurations including
nuclear, dual income and single-parent.
of the books I
The following bibliography annotates 85
3
3
read about working mothers and includes the mother's
occupation and the family configuration.
ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY
OF REALISTIC FICTION
CONTAINING WORKING MOTHERS
1976-1992
One Sister Too Many. New York:
Adler, C.S. (1989).
162p. Grades 6-8.
Macmillian.
Case (12 yrs) notices the new
Sequel to Spilt Sisters.
three-month
babysitter is behaving very oddly with her new
working mother, dealing
old sister Meredith. Case's Mom is a
yith a new job and a colicky baby.
Mother's occupation: Assistant finance manager.
Dual income family.
New York: Macmillian.
Split Sisters.
Mier, C.S. (1986).
Grades 6-8.
161 p.
in New York and takes
Case's mother decides to try a job
stays home with her
Case's older sister, Jen, with her. Case
to keep the family
father and tries to figure out a way
Business manager.
Mother's occupation:
together.
Dual income family.
4
4
New York:
Tuna Fish Thanksgiving.
Adler, C.S. (1992).
Grades 6-9.
Clarion Books.
165 p.
Thirteen-year-old Gilda's parents are getting a divorce,
She thinks
and she is trying to keep her family together.
time
her mother is a workaholic and doesn't spend enough
with her younger brother and sister.
Dual income then
Mother's occupation: Dress shop owner.
single parent family.
New York: Julian
Sonya's Mommy Works.
Alda, A.
(1982).
Grades K-2.
Messner.
48 p.
Basically a photo essay about Sonya's adjustment to her
will
mother's employment. Sonya is worried that her mother
trip.
not be home for her birthday due to a business
Public relations. Dual income family.
Mother's occupation:
New York: Charles
What Are Friends For?
Ames, M.
(1978).
Grades 4-6.
145 p.
Scribner's Sons.
Eleven-year-old Amy finds out about making friends and
adjusting to life without her father.
Single-parent
Mother's occupation: Writer--Perfume ads.
family.
New York:
Mom Is Dating Weird Wayne.
Auch, M.J.
(1988).
Grades 4-6.
146 p.
Holiday House.
working
Jenna and her little brother Corey adjust to a
Jenna objects to her mother's new
mother and a new home.
boyfriend, a wacky weatherman.
Mother's occupation: Zit zapper in a school photo lab.
Also artist. Single-parent family.
New York:
My Mcm Travels Alot.
(1981).
Bauer, C.
F.
43 p. Grades K-1.
Frederick Warne & Co.
things about a
A child points out the good and bad
mother's job that takes her away from home frequently.
Mother's occupation: Unknown probably business.
Dual income family.
New
A Dream of Queens and Castles.
Bauer, M.D. (1990).
Grades 5-7.
118 p.
York: Clarion Books.
Diana must go to England with her mother for a year.
Princess Diana.
She dreams of meeting her name sake,
confrontation
Mother and daughter become closer after a
about work.
Single-parent
Mother's occupation: English professor.
family.
New York:
The Goodbye Summer.
(1979).
Bonsall, C.
Grades 4-6.
164 p.
Greenwillow Books.
endure,
Allie hates endings and the goodbyes she must
her
because her mother runs a boarding house. One summar
things can't ever
friend, Ms. Lenya, teaches her that some
be lost.
boarding house.
Mother's occupation: Owns and runs
Single-parent family.
6
Morton
Story hour--Starring Megan!
Brillhart, J.
(1992).
Grades K-1.
Grove, TL: Albert Whitman.
32 p.
When Megan's mother, the librarian, cannot read to the
children at a story hour, Megan takes over the job.
Mother's occupation: Children's librarian.
Dual income family.
New York: Clarion Books.
What a Wimp!
Carrick, C.
(1983).
Grades 2-4.
89 p.
Although his teacher, mother, and older brother are
sympathetic, Barney knows he'll have to find his own way to
deal with a bully.
Mother's occupation: Real Estate.
Single-parent family.
New York: Dodd,
The Latchkey Mystery.
Clark, M. G.
(1985).
Grades 4-7.
128 p.
Mead and Co.
children
Eleven-year-old Minda, one of several latchkey
burglar,
in her neighborhood, forms a group to watch for a
Adjustment to a
who is robbing houses in the neighborhood.
new home and mother working.
Mother's occupation: Temporary secretary.
Single-parent family.
New York: William
Dear Mr. Henshaw.
Cleary, B.
(1983).
Grades 4-8.
133 p.
Morrow and Co.
and then his
In his letters to his favorite author,
coping with
journal, ten-year-old Leigh reveals his problems
school, his parent's divorce and his
a new home, new
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mother's new job.
Caterer.
Mother's occupation:
Single-parent family.
New York:
Ramona and Her Mother.
Cleary, B.
(1979).
Grades 3-5.
William Morrow and Co.
207 p.
Ramona wishes her mother could stay home like she used
to. Adjustment to school and being the youngest child.
Receptionist in doctor's office.
Mother's occupation:
Dual income family.
New York: William
Ramona Quimby, Age 8.
Cleary, B.
(1981).
Grades 3-5.
Morrow and Co.
190 p.
Ramona, now in the third grade, adjusts to her dad going
to school to become a teacher.
Mother's occupation: Receptionist.
Nuclear family: Mother working, father in college.
New York: Morrow Junior Books.
Strider.
Cleary, B.
(1991).
Grades 4-9.
179 p.
Leigh finds a dog, Strider,
Sequel to Dear Mr. Henshaw.
who keeps him company while his mom works nights as a nurse.
Nurse.
Mother's occupation:
Single-parent family.
New York: Delacorte
Nekomah Creek.
Crew, L.
(1991).
Grades 4-6.
191 p.
Press.
Nine-year-old Robby loves his noisy and somewhat
unconventional family, but unwanted attention from a
counselor and a bully at school make him self-conscious
8
about his house husband dad.
Mother's occupation: Graphic artist.
babies.
Nuclear family: Mother works; Dad stays at home with
New York: Thomas
Arrow in the Wind.
(1978).
Dexter, P.E.
Grades 5-7.
Nelson, Inc.
160p.
divorce,
As a result of his parents' separation and
sixth-grader Benton Arrow grows more independent and forms a
friendship with the school bully.
Single-parent family.
Mother's occupation: Unknown.
Little Brown
Boston:
I'm in Charge!
Drescher, J.
(1981).
Grades K-2.
32 p.
and Co.
attempts to
A child "in charge" while both parents work
situations he creates.
overcome some difficult
Mother's occupation: Business
Dual income family.
New York: Dial
You're my Nikki.
Eisenberg, P.R. (1992).
Grades K-2.
32 p.
Books for Young Readers.
her
Nikki needs reassurance that her mother won't forget
when she goes to work.
Single-parent family.
Mother's occupation: Unknown.
New York:
The Trouble With Mothers.
(1989).
Facklam, M.
Grades 7-12.
135 p.
Clarion Books.
historical
What is a boy to do when his teacher-mother's
of "pornography"
novel is given as an example of the kind
libraries?
that should be banned from schools and
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Teacher and writer.
Mother's occupation:
Single-parent family.
New York: Dodd, Mead
Wretched Robert.
Fisher, S.I.
(1982).
Grades 4-6.
and Co.
110 p.
Eleven-year-old Robert, tired of being considered nice,
starts a campaign to become "wretched," and gain more
attention from his working mother.
Single-parent family.
Real estate.
Mother's occupation:
New York:
Dell
Like Everybody Else.
Girion, B.
(1980)..
Grades 6-9.
Publishing Co.
169 p.
Seventh grader, Samantha (Sam) Gold has a hard time
adjusting to her mother's new life after she writes a spicy
adult novel.
Dual income family.
Mother's occupation:
Writer.
New York: Charles
Misty and me.
Girion, B.
(1979).
Grades 4-6.
Scribner's Sons.
139 p.
Eleven-year-old Kim tries to keep a puppy in secret, mind
her younger brother and adjust to sixth grade when her mom
goes back to work.
As1-_istant Personnel Manager.
Mother's occupation:
Dual income family.
New York:
A1(exandra) the Great.
Greene, C.C.
(1982).
Grades 4-6.
133 p.
Viking Press.
Her vest friend's family helps to cushion the blow when
Al must sacrifice a summer visit to her father's farm in
order to take care of her sick mother.
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