My Mom Is a Ghost! - 53 Picture Books I Want to Read Again and Again

Author Nobumi · Publisher Gilbut Children · Publication Date 2016-05-15 · ISBN 9788955823509

Book Introduction

A heartwarming and tear-jerking sensation that moved the Japanese archipelago!
★ Over 400,000 copies sold since its release in July 2015 (as of May 2016)
★ Ranked #1 picture book on Amazon Japan in 2015
★ Selected book by the Japan School Library Association

My mom became a ghost?
The cute and lovely cover immediately opens with a shocking beginning: "Mom got hit by a car and became a ghost." The ghost mom, barely calming her startled heart at her sudden death, is more worried about her son, Geon-i, than her own demise. Will our son be okay without Mom? Curious, the ghost mom flies home and, sure enough, sees the child crying in his grandmother's arms. The ghost mom hovers around Geon-i and his grandmother, trying to make her presence known, but no one can see her. But that night, after midnight, a miracle happens, and Geon-i can see his ghost mom. The two can finally talk, and they begin to share the deep thoughts they couldn't express before.

A healing picture book that makes you giggle and then moves you deeply
It's amusing to see Geon-i, unaware that his ghost mom is right there, blurt out all the naughty things he's done to her. He put boogers in her mouth when she was sleeping, lied more than a hundred times, and forgot her age, telling his friends she was sixty-five. Children, momentarily forgetting the heavy topic of death, laugh and enjoy the humorous interactions between the two. Geon-i sleeping in his mom's underwear because he misses her is a bit quirky but also poignant. When he finally breaks down crying, saying he hates not having his mom, tears flow, and your heart aches with him. The ghost mom comforts Geon-i, confessing that the best thing she ever did was give birth to him. This part shows how precious Geon-i is and how much his mom loves him. She then expresses her genuine feelings, describing each of Geon-i's loving and endearing qualities, saying, "As Geon-i's mom, I was happy."

Mom, don't disappear
Children will also encounter death someday. They will experience the death of a beloved pet or a family member. Just because adults find it difficult to cope with, we cannot simply avoid the topic of death. Since everyone dies someday, children also need to think about death. Naturally, for a child, a mother's presence is incredibly strong, and the idea of her disappearing is unimaginable. Therefore, children who read this book can have a vicarious experience of what it would be like if their mom disappeared. They come to appreciate the preciousness of their mom who is by their side and feel reassured by her presence. Mothers reading the picture book can also realize how happy this moment with their child is. This book helps both children and mothers realize the preciousness of each other, which they may have taken for granted in their daily lives. On the last page, there is a space for the child to write a letter to their mom and for the mom to write to their child. Share your heartfelt emotions that you've kept deep inside. The everyday moments, where each other's presence was so obvious, will feel different than usual.

A sincere message conveyed through lovely and happy illustrations
The cute illustrations and warm pastel-toned drawings gently convey the dark topic of "death" at a child's eye level. The round and charming crayon drawings seem to soothe the sad child's heart, telling them it's okay. The toys scattered on Geon-i's living room floor, the memos on the wall, the open books, and Geon-i's drawings offer many delightful details. In the scene where Geon-i and his mom go for a walk, the entire town is filled with ghosts. The book adds humor by turning not only people but also cats, dogs, trains, fish, and even poop into ghosts, which children might find scary. "My Mom Became a Ghost!" portrays the sad topic of a mother's death with humorous sentences and warm illustrations.

From an interview with author Nobumi of Kodansha Publishing House

Q. How did you come to create "My Mom Became a Ghost!"? I'm curious about what led you to address death, specifically "a mother's death," in a picture book.

A. The reason I decided to write this picture book was because my wife muttered, 'Can he live without me?' I have a son named Kantaro (10) and a daughter named Ann (7), and from a mother's perspective, she seemed really worried about her two children, especially her son. Like me, boys tend to act foolishly without thinking ahead.
The premise of a mother dying is an extreme one, rare in picture books. Naturally, it's not a topic that can be portrayed lightly. When I considered how "a person dies" might appear to a child, the keyword "ghost" came to mind. Saying "Mom died in a car accident" is also very difficult. So I said, "got hit by a car." Even a child can understand what "getting hit" means. I thought that combining "getting hit" and "ghost" could make a story. Even if it was overly messy, I had to express the delicate line between joy and sorrow. In the first half, I included jokes that mothers and children share, placing great importance on the element of children "laughing." Of course, even then, a mother's death would be a shocking event for a child.
It only takes about 5 minutes to read this book. Laughing and crying within those 5 minutes. There are very few books that can deliver such extreme emotions. This is possible because it's a picture book.

Q. While there are voices saying it was touching, there are also concerns about it causing trauma in children.

A. Many also expressed concern that it might cause trauma in children. On the contrary, I think it's okay if children experience trauma. Moreover, whether trauma will occur or not is unpredictable. Children neither imagine nor want to imagine their mother disappearing. They consider her existence to be a given.
This picture book was completed by reading it aloud to people I met in its draft stage and to those who attended lectures. I showed it to about 1,000 people. Children would cry during the reading, saying, "No! Stop reading!" or run away, saying, "Don't ever read that again!" However, these reactions occur because they love their mothers.
Each time, I asked, "What would you do if your mom disappeared?" It is very important to imagine, no matter how much they dislike it. By doing so, children can understand that their mother is precious. Everyone will eventually die. I believe it is important to release such sad and difficult feelings through a picture book.


* Certification Type: Supplier Conformity Confirmation

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