I think this is a picture book that a lot of kids will relate to. It’s natural for people to be their true selves — their “inside” selves — while in the comfort of their own homes. I think many parents will identify with the mom in the story as they examine the ways in which they also have inside and outside selves to get through their days. I love how gently the author wrote this, full of love and completely absent of judgment. The child is empathetic to their mom, and I think it’s important for adults to see that, too, and know that kids are perceptive and pick up on a lot more than we give them credit for.
Outside Mom, Inside Mom by Jane Park, (List Price: $19.99, Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 9781665929509, March 2025)
Reviewed by Jamie Southern, Bookmarks in Winston-Salem, North Carolina