When Mom’s Away

Crafted by a mother-daughter team, this first-person narrative follows a biracial girl with dark hair and light brown skin whose white mother is a frontline doctor in a situation whose name is never mentioned. When “the virus is spreading again and sending lots of people to the hospital,” her mother goes to work each day and quarantines in the garage; the girl’s bespectacled father, who has light brown skin, takes care of her, preparing her for virtual school each day. At Dad’s encouragement, the two commit to doing their part by taking precautions and assisting at-risk individuals: “We make sure to wash our hands, wear masks when we do go out, and shop for our neighbor so she can stay at home.” Ahmad’s prose is straightforward; textured art by Zaman enlivens each text-heavy page of this realistic pandemic primer. Ages 6–8. [em](Apr.) [/em]