Book Review for Mama's Heart: Understanding Love in an Unknown Special Needs World by Allyssa Meyerhofer, Alice Larsson (illustrator)

 

Mama's Heart: Understanding Love in an Unknown Special Needs World by Allyssa Meyerhofer, Alice Larsson (illustrator)

Published:  March 18, 2025 by Blue Balloon Books

Taken from Goodreads:  How special are we both to get to belong to each other?! Me to you. You to me. You were chosen for this journey to be my mama.

Flawlessly capturing the unconditional love between mother and child, Mama’s Heart: Understanding Love in an Unknown Special Needs World offers a glimpse into the life of a loving family navigating the challenges of raising a special-needs daughter. Told from the perspective of the child, this touching tale expresses gratitude and admiration for her mother, who tirelessly balances her career, family life, and the demands of parenthood. Through her eyes, readers witness the strength, resilience, and unwavering love that bind the mother and daughter.

The story celebrates the power of community and the importance of finding support from others facing similar experiences. With vibrant illustrations and a heartfelt message, Mama’s Heart inspires hope, understanding, and a deeper appreciation for the extraordinary bonds that shape our lives.

My Thoughts:  Mama’s Heart is the perfect book for a mother of a special need child.  I did not feel it was a children’s book but more of a book written from a child to their mother in appreciation of all that they do for them.   The special care and extra attention that is needed for a child that has special needs. 

I liked that each page was specific to something the mother does for the child, whether a feeling, an outing, a care, or an appointment.  The illustration goes with what was written and is bright and colorful. 

This book will tug at your heart strings and open your eyes to how mothering can and does take on many different forms but a mother’s love is strong and true. 

Thank you Blue Balloon Books for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

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About the author (taken from Amazon):  Allyssa Meyerhofer is a nurse at the Mayo Clinic, and she lives in southeastern Minnesota with her husband, who is a farmer, and her three beautiful girls. Following the diagnosis of her youngest daughter, who has trisomy 9p, she has dedicated herself to becoming an advocate in the caregiving and disability world. An incredibly loyal person who’s never met a stranger, she loves to connect and make friends and can be described as a foodie. One of her passions includes helping parents find the resources she wasn’t originally given as well as the space to validate their feelings. Although Allyssa never planned to write a book or become an advocate, she has since found her calling and discovered what she was meant to do.