
A parent should reach for this book when their child starts asking questions about the past, wondering what mommy or daddy was like as a kid. This sweet, gentle story follows a little girl's curiosity as her mother shares memories of her own childhood: her favorite toy, getting into mischief, and playing with her brother. It beautifully illustrates that parents were once children too, with the same feelings and experiences. Perfect for preschoolers, it fosters a deep sense of connection, empathy, and family history, turning a simple question into a lovely bonding moment.
This book is exceptionally gentle and contains no sensitive topics. Its approach to family history is positive, secular, and nostalgic. The resolution is one of warmth and reinforced love between parent and child.
The ideal reader is a curious 4 to 6 year old who is developing a concept of time and has just realized their parents have a history. It is perfect for the child who is fascinated by old family photos or frequently asks, "Mommy, were you ever my age?"
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Sign in to write a reviewNo preparation is required. The book can be read cold. However, parents should be ready for follow up questions about their own childhoods. It might be helpful to have a simple, fun anecdote of their own ready to share after the story is finished. The parent's trigger is hearing their child ask, for the first or fiftieth time, "What did you do when you were a kid?" It's a response to a child's burgeoning awareness of their parent as a whole person with a past.
A younger child (3-4) will enjoy the direct comparisons in the illustrations and the simple, surprising idea that Mommy was little. An older child (5-7) will grasp the more abstract concepts of time, family lineage, and how some things change while others (like a parent's love) stay the same. They may ask more detailed questions about the past.
Unlike many nostalgic picture books that tell a single, linear story from the past, this one's strength is its direct Q&A format that mirrors a real conversation between a parent and child. Its primary differentiator is the consistent side by side visual pairing of past and present, making the abstract concept of "then and now" concrete and accessible for the youngest readers.
A young girl asks her mother, "What were you like when you were little?" The mother answers by sharing a series of vignettes from her childhood. She describes riding a tricycle, having a beloved stuffed rabbit, playing with her older brother, going to school, and getting into minor mischief like cutting her own hair. The illustrations cleverly pair scenes from the mother's past with the daughter's present, visually connecting their experiences across a generation.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.