ALA Booklist

The latest installment in this best-selling "How to" series offers fun-filled advice on how progeny should raise their mothers. Presented as a lecture, the book opens with a boy and girl pointing to a large drawing of "Mom," with arrows drawn to features like "strong arms," "fast legs," and "big smile." The audience of their cat, dog, and readers is given tips on how to keep Mom happy and healthy, and then follows the narrators through a day of waking Mom; dressing her (one sandal, one boot, a scarf, and a tiara); running errands (If Mom gets cranky in line, give her snacks); and so on. Of course, a sweetness underscores this humorous role reversal, as the kids demonstrate good behaviors they've learned and finagle a few perks for themselves. They encourage Mom "playdates" in order to score some playground time, and voluntarily institute quiet time, so Mom can do her work. Colorful digital illustrations brim with silly details and enhance the story.

Horn Book

A sibling duo gives familiar-sounding instructions on how to raise a "happy, healthy mom." If she gets cranky in the grocery store line, for example, "surprise her with a snack and a toy." The cartoony digital art shows that Mom's in on the joke. This inevitable follow-up to How to Surprise a Dad comically recognizes a tough and rewarding job.

Kirkus Reviews

Mothers finally get their due from Reagan and Wildish, who instruct readers on how to raise a happy and healthy mom.A white brother-and-sister pair are readers' guides, and the day starts with how to wake Mom up: let her sleep in a little, kiss her, and serve breakfast in bed (in Wildish's humorous digital illustrations, whole fruits—including a pineapple and a lime—a box of popcorn, and juice). The kids ready Mom for the day by dressing her (!) and piling everything necessary at the door. Stuck in a long line at the store? If a surprise treat and acting silly fail, just say, "Thank you so much, Sweet Pea, for being so patient." The day continues with time for work, outside play, and relaxing, followed by some tips about eating vegetables and bedtime routines. While many of the pages are laugh-out-loud funny, this misses the mark in terms of consistency, sometimes prodding kids to do nice things (breakfast in bed, tidy up for her), sometimes reversing the parent and child roles (the hilarious scene in the store), and other times just showing what moms regularly do anyway (playing outdoors, sitting and chatting with another mom on a "playdate").Still, this may be just the ticket for harried moms who want to point out all they do for their kids and get a little help in return—sly fun in other words. (Picture book. 4-8)

Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

Following How to Babysit a Grandma and other titles, Reagan and Wildish introduce two brown-haired siblings who offer tips on raising a -happy, healthy mom.- The humorous role reversals of the previous books are once again on full display: the children help their mother get dressed in the morning (the -perfect- outfit involves mismatched shoes, socks on hands, and no fewer than six hair bows) and -Surprise her with a snack and toy- when she starts to get cranky in a long grocery store line. Loving and caring work both ways, this duo makes clear. Ages 4-8. Author-s agent: Jamie Weiss Chilton, Andrea Brown Literary. Illustrator-s agent: Vicki Willden-Lebrecht, Bright Group. (Mar.)