Book Reviews
Reviewed by Philip Van Heusen for Readers’ Favorite
Fun is always had when an elementary school hosts a Donuts With Dads event unless the child does not have a dad. Raymond M. Patterson, Jr. understands the awkward position children living in single-parent homes face by specifying either mom or dad. In Mom Equals Dad, Raymond tells the story of Larry and his friends as they try to cheer him up because he has not seen his dad in over three years. What is the solution to social situations like this? Reading this book will show how children can be supportive and encouraging to each other and how important parents are to children. Youngsters will enjoy reading about Steven, Larry, and Juan as they decide what to do when there is a special day for dads, and you don’t have one.
Mom Equals Dad is a wonderful children’s picture book that helps elementary school-aged children learn about compassion and caring. Raymond M. Patterson, Jr. wrote this book in a manner that children will enjoy. At the end of the book, Raymond writes a beautiful tribute to moms and their important role in children’s lives. Many children live in single-parent homes, so we must teach children to accept different family styles and encourage each other. Children will learn important life skills while understanding that love and caring go a long way in helping those who feel left out. At the end of the book, Raymond includes questions to help apply the child’s newly learned skills and a few compare-and-contrast tasks that will clarify the differences in emotions. I highly recommend this book and the discussions that follow.
Reviewed by Pikasho Deka for Readers’ Favorite
Mom Equals Dad is a heartwarming children's picture book by Raymond M. Patterson Jr. It follows the story of Larry, a ten-year-old boy raised by his single mother. As Skyes Elementary School prepares to host another Donuts With Dads event this year, friends Steven and Juan can't contain their excitement, especially Juan, who loves to eat jelly donuts. But one of their classmates, Larry, is sad because he doesn't have a dad, only a mom. Larry doesn't want to go to Donuts With Dads and visits Principal Clark's office to tell him how he feels. After listening to Larry, Principal Clark is somewhat moved. However, Steven and Larry's mom soon find a way to cheer him up. Larry realizes that although he doesn't have a dad, he still has a loving mom who will continue to make him happy.
Mom Equals Dad is a heartfelt tale that celebrates the loving relationship between a child and their mother. In the span of a few pages, Raymond M. Patterson Jr. tells a captivating story that is bound to tug at your heartstrings and, by the end, leave you with a smile on your face. The character development in this children's book is simply brilliant. Each character feels like a real person with a distinct personality that leaps off the pages. Larry, Steven, and Juan really come off as actual elementary school kids. The artwork complements the storytelling perfectly and enhances the read. Although targeted primarily toward young readers, I think even adults will find a lot to love about this book. I thoroughly enjoyed it and can't recommend it highly enough.
Reviewed by Philip Van Heusen for Readers’ Favorite
Fun is always had when an elementary school hosts a Donuts With Dads event unless the child does not have a dad. Raymond M. Patterson, Jr. understands the awkward position children living in single-parent homes face by specifying either mom or dad. In Mom Equals Dad, Raymond tells the story of Larry and his friends as they try to cheer him up because he has not seen his dad in over three years. What is the solution to social situations like this? Reading this book will show how children can be supportive and encouraging to each other and how important parents are to children. Youngsters will enjoy reading about Steven, Larry, and Juan as they decide what to do when there is a special day for dads, and you don’t have one.
Mom Equals Dad is a wonderful children’s picture book that helps elementary school-aged children learn about compassion and caring. Raymond M. Patterson, Jr. wrote this book in a manner that children will enjoy. At the end of the book, Raymond writes a beautiful tribute to moms and their important role in children’s lives. Many children live in single-parent homes, so we must teach children to accept different family styles and encourage each other. Children will learn important life skills while understanding that love and caring go a long way in helping those who feel left out. At the end of the book, Raymond includes questions to help apply the child’s newly learned skills and a few compare-and-contrast tasks that will clarify the differences in emotions. I highly recommend this book and the discussions that follow.
Reviewed by Pikasho Deka for Readers’ Favorite
Mom Equals Dad is a heartwarming children's picture book by Raymond M. Patterson Jr. It follows the story of Larry, a ten-year-old boy raised by his single mother. As Skyes Elementary School prepares to host another Donuts With Dads event this year, friends Steven and Juan can't contain their excitement, especially Juan, who loves to eat jelly donuts. But one of their classmates, Larry, is sad because he doesn't have a dad, only a mom. Larry doesn't want to go to Donuts With Dads and visits Principal Clark's office to tell him how he feels. After listening to Larry, Principal Clark is somewhat moved. However, Steven and Larry's mom soon find a way to cheer him up. Larry realizes that although he doesn't have a dad, he still has a loving mom who will continue to make him happy.
Mom Equals Dad is a heartfelt tale that celebrates the loving relationship between a child and their mother. In the span of a few pages, Raymond M. Patterson Jr. tells a captivating story that is bound to tug at your heartstrings and, by the end, leave you with a smile on your face. The character development in this children's book is simply brilliant. Each character feels like a real person with a distinct personality that leaps off the pages. Larry, Steven, and Juan really come off as actual elementary school kids. The artwork complements the storytelling perfectly and enhances the read. Although targeted primarily toward young readers, I think even adults will find a lot to love about this book. I thoroughly enjoyed it and can't recommend it highly enough.
Picture book readers have a growing number of life skills and psychology insight books to
choose from, and Mom Equals Dad should take its place at the top of this list. Adults who choose
it for read-aloud will find the story incorporates many discussion points and opportunities for
dialogue as it follows an annual elementary school’s ‘Donuts With Dads!’ celebration—an event
that seems to leave out young Larry, who has no father to attend.
His concerned friends want to help (after all, they all love donuts) but, how can they?
As the story unfolds, Juan and Steven receive lessons in friendship, support systems, and the
importance of both mothers and fathers in a family.
Even though Larry well knows his hard-working mother does everything she can to assume both
roles in their household, the event only reinforces his lack of a father figure.
How can his friends and his concerned mother fill such a big gap?
Although its approach is whimsical, the real subject of absent fathers is presented in an inviting
manner which will encourage young readers to begin dialogues with adults and peers for better
understanding all around, between those who have fathers and those who do not, for whatever
reason.
The characters interact over their mutual attraction to donuts in a manner that reinforces ideas
about friendship and life meaning, giving kids an outstanding reference point for absorbing how
kindness and thoughtful actions make a difference.
Elementary-level collections seeking simple-appearing picture books with big, colorful drawings
and big, appealing ideas to back them will want to add Mom Equals Dad not only for its donut
attraction, but for delivering a strong message about accepting and being a support system to
others.
What to Expect: Friendship, problem-solving, single parents, emotional learning
In Mom Equals Dad, readers will be immersed in a heartwarming narrative that
models social-emotional skills through a lovable cast of characters, providing a
reassuring emotional impact on young minds.
Larry feels really sad on the day of Sykes Elementary’s Donuts with Dads event. All
his friends are excited to eat delicious donuts with their dads, but Larry doesn’t think
he’ll be able to join them. He comes from a single-parent home—it’s just him and his
mom. Without a dad, how can he attend the event? Luckily, Larry is surrounded by
people who absolutely will NOT allow him to miss this fun event. While Larry shares
his sadness with Principal Clark, Steven and Juan team up with their teacher, Ms.
Gomez, to find the best dad in the whole world to be with Larry—his mom!
Shy Larry is sweet and vulnerable, and readers will enjoy seeing his friends banding
together to look out for him. Vibrant cartoon-style digital artwork throughout the
story emphasizes the character’s faces and body language, helping readers recognize
the emotional changes that drive the story. Notably, both child and adult characters
model emotional intelligence on every page, showing readers how they can handle
strong emotions, support each other with empathy, and validate the feelings of
others through words and actions. The longer-form narrative is perfect for readers
not quite ready to transition to chapter books yet, offering an in-between style to
help them build more complex literacy skills. Discussion prompts at the end of the
book provide further opportunities to strengthen literacy and social-emotional skills.
Mom Equals Dad is about more than just appreciating the parent you have—it’s also
a great tool for teaching emotional intelligence to growing readers, whether at home
or in the classroom. —The Children's Book Review
Press Information
A new multimedia brand uses storytelling to educate young children on essential life skills to be applied in everyday life.
ST. LOUIS, Missouri– Little Life Skills LLC, a multimedia publishing group, announces the new release of their namesake children’s book series, a collection of illustrated stories for families and educators of young children that uses storytelling to teach practical knowledge skills for children to apply to everyday life. The Little Life Skills series, written by Raymond M. Patterson Jr., debuts with the title Mom Equals Dad which follows a child from a single-parent family struggling with his feelings about an upcoming school event.
In the story, the students at Sykes Elementary School are excited because it’s “Donuts with Dads Day,” a breakfast program for students and their dads to eat donuts with the principal. Steven and Juan can’t wait to get their hands on that powdered and jelly deliciousness. But their friend, Larry, is sad because he won’t be joining them—he doesn’t have a dad, just his mom. When Larry decides to go to Principal Clark’s office to talk about his feelings, his friends put their heads together, using compassion and empathy to surprise him with a solution that makes Larry’s day.
The Little Life Skills™ brand offers a multifaceted approach to educating children on essential life skills, encompassing an animated series, book series, and curriculum, seamlessly blending entertainment with education, empowering children to cultivate essential life skills that will serve them well in adulthood. The series centers around Steven and his crew, presenting a compelling narrative where they confront various challenges and collaborate to find solutions.
About the inspiration for writing the series, author Patterson, a motivational speaker, entrepreneur, and former teacher, says, “Being a teacher, I noticed that students were missing the essential life skills that were required to survive. Not being able to critically think and with the increase in single parent homes, they were missing out on the proper training to be successful.”
The back of each book has a literacy enhancement section designed by Dr. Kristin Linthicum, an expert with a Master's Degree in Secondary Teaching and Inquiry, a Doctorate of Education in Curriculum & Instruction, and a Doctorate of Education in Educational Leadership. This section guides and supports parents and educators on literacy skills development. A full curriculum has been created for grades Pre-K through Fifth grade. The Pre-K curriculum is created according to the Missouri Elementary Learning Standards, using best practices, whereas the K-5 Curriculum is aligned to the Common Core Standards. The curriculum provides educators and parents with engaging lessons that include Social Emotional Lessons, community building activities that correspond to each storyline. This integration enhances the educational experience, enabling children to apply the lessons from the series in real-world contexts.
If you would like more information about author Raymond M. Patterson Jr., and the Little Life Skills children’s book series, please contact [email protected] or visit www.littlelifeskills.org.