What MOMMY MAYOR is about:
Janneke’s passion for community involvement led her to write Mommy Mayor in the hope that it will empower children to find their voice and use it to make change in the world around them.
Meet Mary, the mayor’s deputy and Special Playground Assistant. During her inspection of the park, she finds that things are amiss. There’s a broken swing, a teeter that won’t totter, and a head-rattling bike path—the park is out of order! But does she have the power to start big changes all by herself? Join Mary in Mommy Mayor as she sets out on a quest to help the mayor—her mommy!—fix the neighborhood playground and bring order again.
Mommy Mayor shows the power that one person has to make changes—even kids! Empowering children to speak up and get involved in their community like Mary teaches them the impact they can have in the world.
In Mommy Mayor by Janneke House, a young girl named Mary takes on the important role of Special Playground Assistant for her neighborhood. As she explores all her favorite areas of the playground, she discovers it’s in pretty bad shape, with issues like a broken swing, a rusty teeter totter, and a cracked bike path, among others. She decides she needs to lend a hand and writes down and draws what needs fixing before heading over to City Hall to meet with the mayor, who happens to be her mom. Will she be able to convince Mommy Mayor to fix all the issues at the park? As Mary learns more about her community, she realizes that even small voices can inspire big changes. The story is a sweet reminder that our voices matter.
What I loved about Mommy Mayor is how warmly it highlights the way even kids can make a difference when they become involved in their own town, which evokes the phrase “Small, but mighty” to me. Janneke House’s writing is easy to understand and inviting, filled with genuine little moments—like when the slide isn’t slippery enough—and relatable, since children always want to help when they can. Sisca Kumara’s brightly colored, cheerful illustrations really bring the story to life, perfectly capturing the book’s spirit and Mary’s determination. As an educator, I believe it can spark great conversations related to teamwork, problem-solving, and helping others. Teachers could create their own “Mayor for a Day” in their classrooms, or have students identify a project at school or home that they could help fix. It’s a fun, positive read that encourages young learners to be active, caring members of their neighborhoods.
– Jennifer Senick for Readers’ Favorite
Janneke House
Janneke House has over twenty years’ experience in politics, working for some of the top political candidates in the country at every level of government: the President of the United States, the U.S. Senate, Congress, state legislature, governor, mayor, city council, and library trustee. Janneke has also pursued political office during her career, running for city council in both Salt Lake City, UT and Cambridge, MA. Janneke has a passion for helping the communities in which she lives by serving on various non-profit boards. She was the first graduate to receive a Master of Urban Planning degree from the University of Utah, where she had completed her undergraduate studies in Urban Planning. Janneke was born near Sundance, Utah, where she developed her love for the mountains. She now resides in New York City.