Mother’s Day is approaching. I dream of my kids bringing me breakfast in bed and lazing in the backyard with a book…reality will probably be different.
I do know that our day will involve some reading aloud. I hope yours will too. Although I’ll be pulling out some old favorite Mom books, I am also excited to share some new ones with my kids.
My favorite books about Moms of all kinds are below.
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20 Children’s Books about
Moms, Mommies, and Mamas of all Kinds
1. Hand in Hand
by Alyssa Satin Capucilli
illustrated by Sheryl Murray
An incredibly sweet, poetic board book for little ones. Written in gentle, brief words and illustrated with glowing, warmth this is a beautiful book about a mom and daughter. The book follows the pair through their day as they explore their little world together. Capucilli does such a wonderful job capturing the simple joys of childhood and being a mom. Share this one with a toddler on your lap.
2. To the Moon and Back for You
words by Emilia Bechrakis Serhant
art by EG Keller
This is the book you gift to the new mom who has had a long journey to her baby. It was written by a mom who struggled through years of infertility but I think it could also work with an adoption journey. It is a gorgeous book that I wish I could have read to my twins when they were babies. The words are powerful and poignant, the illustrations are luminous and stunning. You can feel the heart of the mother pounding on these pages. A gift.
3. In My Heart
by Mackenzie Porter
illustrated by Jenny Lovlie
This is such a sweet board book. It is written for (and perfect for) working moms and their little ones. It tells the story of a woman and her daughter saying goodbye for the day and the child wondering if the mom will miss her. The simple ways the mom thinks about her child all day are relatable and heartfelt. The illustrations are warm and equally sweet. This book would be a great gift for working moms and their babies and toddlers.
4. That’s Me Loving You
by Amy Krouse Rosenthal
illustrations by Teagan White
This book chokes me up every time. Maybe it’s knowing Rosenthal’s story or maybe it’s my own CF diagnosis, but the message of a mom loving their child no matter where they are makes me teary eyed. But even on a less dramatic note, this is a good one for any sort of separation – the first day of preschool, divorce, deployment, whatever. It’s that universally true message that parents love us always, even when we’re apart.
5. What Mommies Do Best/What Daddies Do Best
by Laura Numeroff
illustrated by Lynn Munsinger
Start on one side, you will read the many things that Mommies Do Best. Get the middle and you have to flip it over to read about what Daddies Do Best. It turns out that they do the same wonderful things, just in a slightly different way.
6. You Are My I Love You
by Maryann Cusimano Love
This sweet little board book is an adorable poem about the love between a mother and her child. It makes for a wonderful gift for new moms or as a goodnight read aloud for littles.
7. Is Your Mama a Llama?
by Deborah Guarino
illustrated by Steven Kellogg
This is a classic. Llama is looking for his mama. Full of fun animals and delightful rhymes, this is a great read aloud for toddlers and preschoolers.
8. Mama, Do You Love Me?
by Barbara M. Joosse
illustrated by Barbara Lavallee
This was gifted to us when our twins were born and it was one of my favorites to read aloud to them before bed. It’s lyrical, brief, and full of a mama’s unconditional love. I also adore the Alaskan setting and how aptly it conveys that a mother’s love is a universal thing.
9. I Heart You
by Meg Fleming and illustrated by Sarah Jane Wright
This has the warm, loving quality of a timeless classic. The words are short and sweet couplets full of love. The illustrations are gentle depictions of animal and human mamas and little ones. It is a darling board book that is perfect for a baby shower gift, new baby, Valentine’s Day, or just reading aloud every night to your little love.
10. Guess How Much I Love You
by Sam McBratney
This sweet book has become a classic. It is a discussion between a mom and her little bunny about love and the great lengths one goes for the people (or bunnies) they love.
11. Just Like a Mama
by Alice Faye Duncan
illustrated by Charnelle Pinkney Barlow
Oh this book made me feel all the things. A beautiful story about a little girl and the woman who cares for her while she is away from her mom and dad. Her person who is “just like a mama.” It is never explained why she is apart from her mom and I love that. I love that this book fills a gap for so many children. Children who don’t have a mom or don’t live with their mom but have a mom type figure in their life who cares for them and teaches them things and loves them every day. This book is so needed and I’m so grateful this was written with such tender care.
12. My Love is All Around
by Danielle McLean
illustrated by Sebastien Braun
This is a warm book about love for animal lovers. A mama bear and her cub have a conversation about the love all around them as they observe other animals in the forest. Sweet, relatable this provides great concrete examples of love.
13. A Chair for My Mother
by Vera B Williams
A wonderful warm story about family. Real life is painted with vivid color in this Caldecott Honor Book. A little girl who lives with her mom and her grandmother. Together they slowly save their coins to buy the perfect cozy chair for their apartment.
14. I Love You Because You’re You
by Liza Baker
illustrated by David McPhail
Gently illustrated by the wonderful David McPhail, this is a darling story about a mom and a little boy. The mom shares that she loves her little one when he’s happy, sad, and everything in between. It ends with “I love you any way you are. I love you because you’re you!” I love the message. As a mom I ride the waves of my children’s strong emotions all day long, yet good or bad at the end of the day I love them always. This beautiful idea is well articulated by Liza Baker in this sweet story.
15. You Be Mommy
written by Karla Clark
illustrated by Zoe Persico
A cute, rhyming goodnight story about a very tired mommy. The mommy playfully asks if her little girl will play mommy tonight. Every tired parent (that’s all of us, right?!) will identify with this exhausted mom and her laundry list of completed tasks. Kids will delight in the game and maybe even want to play themselves. The vibrant pictures and adorably illustrated characters add delight and charm to an already sweet book.
16. My Mom is a Lioness
by Swapna Haddow
illustrated by Dapo Adeola
This is the companion to MY DAD IS A GRIZZLY BEAR and it is equally delightful. The little boy’s mom is a lioness that just might gobble you up or roar loudly at your performance, but it turns out have a lioness for a mom has it’s perks as well. This is humorous but also ends with cuddles. A fun read aloud for a group or a little one on your lap.
17. Mommy Time
by Monique James-Duncan
illustrated by Ebony Glenn
An ode to the stay-at-home mom. The text offers a gentle, rhythmic retelling to an ordinary day. It follows a mom of two who is busy from morning until bedtime with the big and little things that fill a day with kids. The illustrations are equally gentle and full of tender warmth.
18. Animal Heroes Supermoms!
by Heather Lang and Jamie Harper
illustrated by Jamie Harper
Animals are pretty impressive moms. The authors highlight all of the super ways different species house, transport, feed and protect their young. The text is succinct but shares fascinating information. The illustrations have a comic book style that adds humor and flair to the supermoms’ feats of parenting. A less obvious “mom’s day” book but a fun twist on the concept of moms being pretty fantastic and a great book for kids who love animals any day of the year.
19. Mama and Mommy and Me in the Middle
by Nina LaCour
illustrated by Kaylani Juanita
This is a beautiful picture book about a girl with two moms. The little girl’s Mommy has to travel for work and is gone all week. As the little girl and her Mama make their way through the week she feels a lot of big emotions. Traveling for work and other separations are a big part of the lives of many kids. I love that this story helps them feel seen and gives them an opening to talk about how these hard moments feel.
20. The Mommies on the Bus
by Hannah Eliot
illustrated by Airin O’Callaghan
Sing along to The Mommies on the Bus set to the tune of The Wheels on the Bus. Moms and kids alike will enjoy the relatable experience of riding on a bus. Chunky board book pages, cheerful illustrations and a familiar tune make this a delightful book for babies and toddlers.
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