What do you think?
Rate this book
Mama Zooms
A boy's wonderful mama takes him zooming everywhere with her, because her wheelchair is a zooming machine.
32 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1993
2 people are currently reading
188 people want to read
About the author
Jane Cowen-Fletcher
11Ìýbooks15ÌýfollowersThe creator of the best-selling BABY ANGELS and, more recently, the illustrator of I LOVE YOU BABY, FROM HEAD TO TOE!, Jane Cowen-Fletcher lives with her husband in South Berwick, Maine.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews
May 3, 2019
I really liked this book which portrays a white family with one parent who uses a wheelchair and one parent who doesn't. The story is told through the perspective of the child, whose gender is not specified in the text and could therefore be interpreted as having any/no gender(s). Lovely illustrations support the affirming message of this book and give it a cozy, loving feel. I would definitely recommend this book for any child, whether they have a parent who uses a wheelchair or not. It does a great job of normalizing and celebrating the experience of a family like this one.
September 1, 2009
This has been a fun book for our family. As soon as our son was born, we bought a copy. My wife uses an motorized wheelchair, and my son now has a little sister - so, while the story isn't a perfect match - it's still very similar to riding on mommy's zooming machine! My wife drops my son off at school and picks him up, using her wheelchair. They also ride the bus, go to the park, go out to eat, and do plenty of other activities on that "zooming machine"!
Written in 1993, the story seems a little dated to me, but there is no other book like this! Great imagery - the words are paired with the author's own pastel and colored pencil illustrations. A great way to show the mother/son relationship - I'd like to see a sequel! A follow up book could give readers more insight on how a mother with a disability cares for her child - expanding beyond just giving rides.
I love the ending: "Mama zooms me right up until bedtime. Then Mama is just my mama, and that's how I like her best." All in all a wonderful book and we're glad it's available! Our family also enjoys Zoom! and A Rainbow of Friends.
Written in 1993, the story seems a little dated to me, but there is no other book like this! Great imagery - the words are paired with the author's own pastel and colored pencil illustrations. A great way to show the mother/son relationship - I'd like to see a sequel! A follow up book could give readers more insight on how a mother with a disability cares for her child - expanding beyond just giving rides.
I love the ending: "Mama zooms me right up until bedtime. Then Mama is just my mama, and that's how I like her best." All in all a wonderful book and we're glad it's available! Our family also enjoys Zoom! and A Rainbow of Friends.
February 23, 2018
Student: Evita LaQua
Author: Jane Cowen -Fletcher
Book title: Mama Zooms
This book was about:
A story of a mother in a wheelchair who is doing imaginative play with her child.
The Featured character(s) in this book
mother
little boy
I liked or didn't like this book � provide reason pro/con
I liked this book because it is a fun,book which introduces young children to people with a disability, it shows both mother and son playing together by using their imagination.
State your reasons (why or why not) you would recommend this book for children
I would use this book for children to make them understand that even though someone has a disability that they should be treated the same.
January 12, 2018
This was so fun and sweet and exciting to read. I’d probably get this for my kid when the time comes and then we’d create our own Mama zooms story.
March 27, 2021
A short and sweet but excellent book to help kids accept wheelchairs as normal and commonplace.
October 24, 2012
Grade/interest level: Primary (K-3rd grade)
Reading level: AD750L
Genre: Picture Book
Main Characters: The boy, the mother, and the father
Setting: Various settings
POV: 1st person, from the young boy
This book follows a son and his mother, who is in a wheelchair. The book is written from the point of view of the son who calls his mother’s wheelchair her “zooming machine.� The boy describes all of his zooming adventures he takes on his mother’s lap. He imagines that she is a variety of things such as his ship at sea, his racecar, his bridge, his airplane, etc. He talks about riding down ramps with her, rushing down the boardwalk at the beach, and talks about his mother’s strong arms from zooming. Each picture correlates with the description on that page. This book has an adult-directed lexile level due to some difficult words such as buckboard wagon. However, the book has little text and strong picture support. The book ends with his mother “zooming� him up until bedtime, when he finishes the book by saying, “Then Mama is just my mama, and that’s how I like her best.�
This is another book that I used in a potential unit plan I created for a bilingual endorsement course. It was part of the different types of families unit. I really like this book because it has characters that are rarely featured in text. There are little materials available about disabled parents. I particularly love the ending that concludes the book by expressing that his mother is still his mother, regardless of her abilities. I would definitely use this in the classroom, again, in a unit on different families. I think its great to expose students to different types of people and letting them know that they are no different than them.
Reading level: AD750L
Genre: Picture Book
Main Characters: The boy, the mother, and the father
Setting: Various settings
POV: 1st person, from the young boy
This book follows a son and his mother, who is in a wheelchair. The book is written from the point of view of the son who calls his mother’s wheelchair her “zooming machine.� The boy describes all of his zooming adventures he takes on his mother’s lap. He imagines that she is a variety of things such as his ship at sea, his racecar, his bridge, his airplane, etc. He talks about riding down ramps with her, rushing down the boardwalk at the beach, and talks about his mother’s strong arms from zooming. Each picture correlates with the description on that page. This book has an adult-directed lexile level due to some difficult words such as buckboard wagon. However, the book has little text and strong picture support. The book ends with his mother “zooming� him up until bedtime, when he finishes the book by saying, “Then Mama is just my mama, and that’s how I like her best.�
This is another book that I used in a potential unit plan I created for a bilingual endorsement course. It was part of the different types of families unit. I really like this book because it has characters that are rarely featured in text. There are little materials available about disabled parents. I particularly love the ending that concludes the book by expressing that his mother is still his mother, regardless of her abilities. I would definitely use this in the classroom, again, in a unit on different families. I think its great to expose students to different types of people and letting them know that they are no different than them.
August 24, 2008
This is a sweet story about a boy spending his days with his mom, zooming here to there, playing make-believe the whole way. When she zooms him down a hall, he's a train conductor, that sort of thing.
His mother zooms him in her wheelchair, but that's only shown in the illustrations, not discussed. There is a mention that "we love ramps", but the fact is that able-bodied children love running up and down ramps too, it doesn't say explicitly "Because Mama can't get up the stairs".
This sort of presentation is, I think, very important in normalizing disability. Books that make a big deal about the subject can serve to make it seem scarier and stranger than it actually is.
This book, by contrast, is a storybook, nothing more. I really recommend this to any child, especially any child who knows anybody who uses a wheelchair.
His mother zooms him in her wheelchair, but that's only shown in the illustrations, not discussed. There is a mention that "we love ramps", but the fact is that able-bodied children love running up and down ramps too, it doesn't say explicitly "Because Mama can't get up the stairs".
This sort of presentation is, I think, very important in normalizing disability. Books that make a big deal about the subject can serve to make it seem scarier and stranger than it actually is.
This book, by contrast, is a storybook, nothing more. I really recommend this to any child, especially any child who knows anybody who uses a wheelchair.
February 6, 2018
Jane Crowen-Fletcher does something absolutely beautiful in this book by portraying the story of a child who's mother is in a wheelchair; however, that does not stop the two from living an abundant life. The son goes everywhere with his mother, as she is his race car, ship and airplane. She is all of those wonderful and mystical characteristics to him, but most importantly she is his mother. She has strong arms and a stronger heart. This an amazing story that I truly loved reading and will cherish forever. As a teacher, I would love to use this story as awareness to my students of those with special needs. I would want my students to see that although they might be a little different, all of us can live happily together.
March 28, 2012
This is a book meant for children whose parents are handicap. The little boy uses his imagination while sitting on mama's lap. If you have a student in your class who has parents or relatives that are handicap, you can read this book to the whole class to ensure them that it is okay. They need to just be postive about it. All of the illustrations go along with the words well. It is a good book to paint a picture in a child's mind.
September 29, 2015
This is a very simple book featuring a little boy whose mother uses a wheelchair. The illustrations focus on the child and his mum, rather than the wheelchair, and he is in a position that all children can empathise with- sitting on her lap as they move around pretending to be planes, superheroes and racing cars. Recommended, especially for classes with a child who has a family member who is a wheelchair user.
April 11, 2011
This is a very good book that I'm sure certain students could relate to, whether its them, their, parents, or a family memeber. Very sweet book when teaching your students on what makes people different. Eventhough the young girl's mother was in a wheelchair she still had fun, and loved her mother just the same. This is great to show your students that things can be done differently.
June 8, 2017
In this book, a child has fun zooming with his mother. His mother is in a wheelchair, but this doesn't mean she can't have just as much fun as any other mom. This is a simple book that provides visibility for people with physical disabilities.
Instructional suggestions: theme, diversity, physical disabilities
Genres: realistic fiction
Instructional suggestions: theme, diversity, physical disabilities
Genres: realistic fiction
January 13, 2018
I am in a wheelchair- spinal cord injury- and was introduced to this book through a friend. I read it to my daughter when she was preschool age and look forward to reading it to my granddaughter! It is excellent- it focuses on what a disabled mom can provide for her children which is so encouraging!
June 19, 2008
This is a cute little story to share with your class. It is about a mom that is in a wheelchair. You can have your class respond about how they felt about the book and write something special about their mom.
November 21, 2011
This is a great book. It will help children accept others who are different. It teaches that even if you are in a wheelchair, you can have fun. The illustrations are fun, soft and timeless.
AR 1.9
AR 1.9
December 31, 2013
Such a lovely picture book, with short sentences. It shows all the things a child does with his Mother whilst shes in her wheelchair. Promoting equal opportunities and showing that all Mama's are not the same.
August 19, 2015
I have used this wonderful book with kids and adults of all ages! It is a wonderful book about a little boy and his mama and how they turn her wheelchair into a joyful thing that allows them to zoom together all day long!
June 17, 2017
This book has a great message, especially for young children learning about family members or friends with disabilities. Yes, all kids can learn from this book and it brings to light the fact that everyone has love and special abilities to offer.
October 2, 2017
This story is about a child who does all kinds of special things with his mother who is in a wheelchair. Their relationship isn't impaired due to her handicap, which is a good lesson for children to learn.
Read
September 29, 2009A good book to get your students to accept EVERYONE (especially students who may be physically and/or mentally disable).
November 19, 2009
Cute book for little kids
April 12, 2011
This was a cute story about a little boy that goes on adventures with his mom. His mom is in a wheel chair and the story is about the different “zooming� adventures they go on together.
June 23, 2011
My daughter is currently on a Llama Llama kick and this book may have broken it. She loves it and wants it again and again. Was given this book at a kids literacy and movement class. Fantastic.
May 10, 2012
Nice, but i wish more was going on than the boy's imagination when he's on his mom's lap.
April 18, 2013
One of my favorites growing up, the special bond between the mother and the child is amazingly apparent here.. His safety in her arms is priceless, the whole book actually is one special experience
Read
April 2, 2013WAMWAO Session 25
April 23, 2013
This is a book about a little boy that has a mom that is in a wheelchair. This is neat because it talks about how she tries to make it cool and fun for her little boy.
April 27, 2013
This is a great book to show kids that all of their parents are great the way they are. Every child will have different families and this book encourages them to be proud of them.
April 27, 2013
Cute way to show how kid's parents are all different and also show that wheelchairs and other disability instruments won't hold people back.
April 28, 2013
This book is about a young boy and his mother who is handicap. She uses her wheelchair to create imagination with her son. Such as an airplane, and race car, and spaceship.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews
Can't find what you're looking for?
Get help and learn more about the design.