Mama Learns to Drive

by Donald Davis

Overview

Learning to drive occasions emotions ranging from reasonable caution to unbridled terror. Learning under the watchful eye of one's spouse is an added challenge; undertaking the task with anxious children in the back seat can only heighten the intensity. Davis recalls his mother's driving lessons through the objective eye of a patient and restrained young man of seven, in contrast with his little brother, whose oft-shouted refrain—"You're going to kill us all!"—rings still in memory. Through the writer's unerring eye, Mama is endowed with prescience enough to stay one step ahead of the craftiest child. In these stories narrated by a growing boy who arrives eventually at an appreciation for Mama's wisdom, tact, and—most of all—love, Mama is always the calm in the center of chaos. Developed in live performance at storytelling festivals coast-to-coast, these stories consistently prompt delight, amusement, and recognition.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	2000003486083
Publisher:	August House Publishers, Inc.
Publication date:	02/06/2007
Edition description:	Unabridged

Editorial Reviews

Veteran storyteller Donald Davis has put four stories about life in North Carolina on this CD. The stories range from 8 to 20 minutes; the first and longest is about his mother learning to drive. She grew up in rural North Carolina in the 1930's. Her family farm was sixteen miles from the nearest town. Her parents were poor farmers. They did not own a car or truck. They did their farming with horses, mules and oxen. She did not make the trek into town until she was about eight years old. The next trip, which was made on horse drawn wagon, was not made for another five years. This is a fascinating commentary on the self-sufficiency of those American farmers. In fact the first time they went to town, they took a quick look and turned around and came home. They had no business to attend to in town. His young mother did finally learn to drive a car with her two kids in the back seat. The storyteller's brother bitterly complained about the experience. The other three stories are about the storyteller's own youth and his children. One story is about his hiding peas and carrots he didn't want to eat in a table leg. He might have gotten away with it. However, he was found out when the family moved and the table was taken apart. A favorite Aunt Ester bought him a special birthday present and made his a cake, as well as keeping a secret from his mother. These stories will probably be enjoyed more by adults than by children. 2002, August House Publishers, Ages adult.
—Kristin Harris

Children's Literature