Ma Dear's Aprons-Historical Fiction

McKissack, Patricia. Ma Dear’s Aprons. New York: Simons & Schuster Publishing, 1997.

Patricia McKissack’s, Ma Dear’s Aprons is based on true events in which her great mother whom was called Ma Dear (short for mother dear) occurred when she lived in the early 1900s of rural Alabama. David Earl about 5 years and the only child of Ma Dear always knows what day it is by the color of his mother’s apron, as they do her daily duties for the families that she works for everyday. Through the tasks, whether he enjoys them or not his mother always makes time for them to spend happy moments together even when she’s tired. Everyday David Earl sees an apron except on Sunday which is a no work day for his mother when they can go to church and have dinner by the creek peacefully and quietly together.

Floyd Cooper uses color and texture to support the text in which McKissack depict real life people not just characters in a story. Just is why I styled this art as representational because of how realistic the characters look as he used the fall, rusty and faded colors. The beautifully art texture enhances Mckissack’s text as the characters’ facial features and expressions resemble life. The author provides a note that describes her memory of her great grandmother and how she struggled to maintain while still providing for her family. This book is great way for toddlers 6 and under to see a story about other races as well as a theme of loving your family.

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