When Mother Was Eleven-Foot Four

by: Jerry Camery-Hoggatt; Illustrated by Mark Elliot

Published by: Baker/Revel Publishing

Reviewed by Laura V. Hilton

In 1963 Mother used to joke that she could grow to eleven-foot-four. In reality, she was only four-foot-eleven, and when placed in the center of all eight of the kids in the family, she was the smallest.

But every Christmas, Mother would go all out making Christmas. She bought a twelve-foot tree and decorated it. There were too many gifts under the tree to count. And Christmas was extra-specially wonderful.

But then one year, everything changed. The three cousins that lived with us went to live with their parents. My two older brothers left home. And my dad left. We no longer had a twelve-foot tree…we had one made out of nails and tinsel and attached to the wall. But that year we learned the true meaning of Christmas…

When Mother Was Eleven-Foot-Four is a really cute children’s story about learning to give during the holidays. This book is beautifully illustrated, and beautifully written, and is sure to be a delightful addition to your child’s library. I read it to my two-year-old and my five-year-old, but I think it is geared more toward 8 to 10-year-olds.

Armchair Interviews says: A perfect book for the holidays.