Are You My Mother?

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Are You My Mother? is a children's book by Philip D. Eastman published by Random House Books for Young Readers on June 12, 1960 as part of their Beginner Books series.

It chronicles the adventures of a baby bird who has fallen from the nest and goes looking for his mother. In his search, he meets several different animals, and asks each of them if they are his mother. Each responds according to its kind: the kitten just stares, the hen simply says "No", the dog would like to be helpful, but the cow responds rudely, "How could I be your mother? I am a cow."

In desperation, the hatchling calls out to an uncaring boat and an airplane, and at last, convinced he has found his mother, he climbs onto the teeth of an enormous power shovel. But he is betrayed by the behemoth, as it shudders and grinds into motion. He can't escape. "I want my mother!" he shouts.

But at this climactic moment, his fate is suddenly reversed. The shovel drops him back in his nest, just as his mother is returning home, and the two are reunited, much to their delight.

[edit] Trivia

Are You My Mother? was part of the Beginner Book Video series which included Go, Dog, Go! and The Best Nest.

Eastman dedicated the book to his mother.