Mrs. Mole, I’m Home! by Jarvis - NO

Mrs. Mole, I’m Home! by Jarvis. PICTURE BOOK. Candlewick Press, 2018. $16. 9780763694951

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K, EL (K-3) - NO 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Mr. Mole is ready to be home after a long day at work, only he loses his glasses and has to burrow home blind. He burrows into many different habitats, declaring that he his home, and finding out he arrived at the wrong location. When he does finally make it home, his kids tell him that his glasses are on his head. 

I have some concerns with this book, starting with the title that erroneously suggests that this book is about Mrs. Mole, considering the first book was titled Mr. Mole. My other issue is the way Mrs. Mole is portrayed - grumpy, apron wearing, cooking and waiting for her husband to get home. While traditional gender roles aren’t always a negative in picture books, I feel like this one highlights the roles in an uncomfortable way.   

Jen Wecker, HS English Teacher