Mommy’s Many Arms

“One pair to help you get dressed. One pair to bathe Bala and get him ready for school. One pair to feed the baby. And the last pair to cook and clean the house—all at the same time.” Mommy’s Many Arms is a children’s picture book for ages 3–7 about a busy mother who jokes that she wishes she were a spider or an octopus so she could have enough arms for everything she does in a day. As Mommy talks about getting Mina dressed, bathing Bala, feeding the baby, cooking, and cleaning, Mina turns her wish into a game of “magic time,” using a pencil as a wand to transform Mommy into “Mommy Spider” or “Mommy Octopus.” Bala joins in as “Boy Spider,” and their imaginative play slowly shifts into real help as the children decide to tidy toys and pitch in, just as they once helped Mommy bake a Christmas cake. Set during an ordinary day in the familiar spaces of a family home, this warm, humorous story shows how children’s small acts of help can make a big difference. Through playful scenes and simple, repetitive dialogue, Mommy’s Many Arms opens up gentle conversations about chores, empathy, responsibility, and the many ways families work together.

By

,

Priscilla Okoye

By

,

Priscilla Okoye

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