Review: Mama Seeton's Whistle

Mama Seeton's Whistle by Jerry Spinelli
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

"The first whistle happened one day when Skippy Seeton was two years old. Mama Seeton came to the back door to call him in for dinner. He wasn't there. Mama Seeton was puzzled. From the kitchen window, she had been watching him play. She stepped into the backyard and called again. No one came. Mama Seeton was worried."
Every once in a while, even adults feel the urge to come back to the classic, heart-warming picture book. Well, Mama Seeton's Whistle is at the top of them all! One evening, Mama Seeton comes to the back door to call Skippy Seeton in for supper. He isn't there. Mama Seeton was anxious. Where was her little two year old? So Mama Seeton let out a whistle. It wasn't loud or fancy. Just a plain two-note whistle. And suddenly Skippy felt the urge to pop out from behind Mama Seeton and call, "I'm here, Mama!"
So then, every day, Mama Seeton would whistle her simple, two-note whistle and Skippy Seeton would come in for dinner and a chocolate cake. Then Skippy Seeton and Sheldon Seeton would run in for dinner and that chocolate cake. And then Stewart Seeton joined them. And then, finally, A sister followed-Sophie! They all came bounding in from their adventures, waiting for that cake! And they had adventures!
Skippy snacked on mulberries from his favorite mulberry tree and Sheldon visited his father downtown (he was a driver for Radio Taxi). Stewart made friends with the monkeys in the zoo and Sophie ran. She just loved to run!
Then the kids grew up, as kids do. And they were too far away to come home for supper every night and eat up a chocolate cake. Mama Seeton still baked those chocolate cakes, but only once a week. And she didn't whistle.
Mama Seeton was very sad. She sat thinking wistfully of the good ol' days when her children were home. She did not touch her dinner. Papa Seeton noticed.
" He helped her up from her chair and led her to the back door. "Okay," he said. "Whistle." She gave him a look. "Are you goofy?" "Not at all," he said. "If you pretend it's the old days, maybe you'll feel a little better." So Mama Seeton whistled. She had to try three times, for she was out of practice. The whistle was not loud. It was not fancy. Just a simple, two-note whistle."
Then all the Seeton kids come running home, right into Mama Seeton's arms! They chattered and ate chocolate cake, just like the old days, and she was joyful Mama Seeton again.
Aww! This is such a sweet book! I recommend it to all ages.*
*Warning- This book may make you cry. Keep out of reach of sentimental people.

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