Mother’s Day is a day I cherish every year. I am the very proud mummy of two wonderful girls, and my own mum who passed away some time ago, is my inspiration in life. Spending time with my girls is the best gift in the world, but next on the list is books! So, here are my top picks for mums this Mother’s Day…
Up first is How to Spot a Mum by Donna Amey Bhatt and Aura Lewis. This is a true celebration of mothers and I personally feel every mother should own a copy to share with their family! At the start of the book, there is a lovely poem about what a mum is. Importantly, it says that while everyone has a biological mum, some people also have adopted mums, foster mums or step mums. This book is truly inclusive, featuring mums with disabilities and mums from many different parts of the world.
Between these heart-felt pages, Donna has masterfully woven snippets of comic genius. I loved the “anatomy of the mum”. It is SO true that a mum’s nose is excellent for sniffing out mischief! This warm, witty, and spookily accurate(!) book identifies all the different types of mums out there, from the sporty mum to the online mum; the organised mum to the last-minute mum. You can read my full review and interview with the author here.
How to Spot a Mum was published by Quarto, 2 February 2021
For mothers with babies and young toddlers, this gorgeous multi-cultural board book would be a lovely Mother’s Day gift. I Love Mummy Every Day by Isabel Otter and Alicia Más celebrates the mother-child relationship and all the things a mother does.
Reading this with my three-year-old she was nodding along in agreement which made my heart sing. We absolutely agree that “Mummy never runs out of cuddles.”! The balloon cut-outs are a really lovely touch and my one-year old loved putting her fingers through the holes. This book is bursting with happy mummies and smiling children and will put a smile on your face too.
I Love Mummy Every Day was published by Little Tiger Press, 4 February 2021
Next, I’ve selected Love by Corrinne Averiss and Kirsti Beautyman. This book isn’t a Mother’s Day book per say, as its focus is primarily on a child coming to terms with separation anxiety. However, I had to include it, because at its core this emotional and uplifting picture book is about the unbreakable bond between a mother and their child.
Tess’s family home is full of love, but when she has to leave for her first day of school, she worries she has to leave the love behind. Her mum explains to her that love is like a string, that wraps you up as warm as a scarf, and connects people together even when they are far away. Kirsti’s illustrations are divine. This moving story is a reminder to us all that a mother’s love is unbreakable, ever-present and never-ending.
Love was published by Quarto, 19 January 2021
The final two books I’m showcasing for Mother’s Day are a pair of poetic picture books, Dreams for our Daughters and Songs for our Sons by Ruth Doyle & Ashling Lindsay. The books remind our children that all of us can be whoever we want to be.
Each page brings a new adventure, (sometimes fantasy, sometimes realistic), that children of today will encounter in their lives. These gorgeously illustrated books are wonderful keepsakes for mothers to read with their children as they get older.
Dreams for our Daughters was published by Andersen Press, 4 February 2021
Songs for our Sons was published by Andersen Press, 1 October 2020
Happy Mother’s Day to all the mothers out there and also a special hug to all those who have lost their mothers, or mothers who aren’t able to be with their children xx
I am very grateful to the publishers for providing me with complimentary copies of these books. This voluntary feature contains my honest opinion.
Picture Book Perfect 