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 Mother’s Day 2022…
My Must-Have Mum by Maudie Smith and Jen Khatun
This book has a gorgeous, beautiful message that I think many – if not all – mothers want their children to know.
Told in the engaging and relatable first-person voice of a little boy called Jake, we learn all about his must-have mum who can make Something out of Anything. She can’t pass a skip without bringing home some new treasures to upcycle.
But Jakes starts to wonder, does his mum want to upcycle him too? Mum’s answer made me cry! The illustrations have a Quinten Blake feel and suit the story perfectly. My Must-Have Mum is a heart-warming story about the unbreakable bond between a mother and her son, and a little boy who learns that he is perfect just the way he is. This is a book to be enjoyed all year round and would make a lovely Mother’s Day gift!
Published by Lantana Publishing, 3 March 2022
ISBN: 978-1913747688
My Mum is a Lioness by Swapna Haddow and Dapo Adeola
This fantastic follow-up to My Daddy is a Grizzly Bear would make a brilliant Mother’s Day gift.
I was delighted to see that Swapna and Dapo had the same ingenious-style opening spread. The hilarious adventure is set-up straight away as we see Mum through the eyes of the little boy as a lioness (while the bathroom mirror tells a different story!). We see Mum the Lionless leaping around after the family all day, and how she looks out for her cubs.
My Mum is a Lioness is a picture book that works on every level. Reading this book as a mother, so much of the story was relatable to me, and all the while it kept my daughters captivated. It’s funny, inclusive, heartfelt – and we all loved the ending!
Published by Macmillan Children’s Books; Main Market edition, 3 February 2022
ISBN: 978-1529013993
Peppa Pig: I Love You, Mummy Pig
My daughters are both big Peppa Pig fans. My two-year is particularly taken with the books and so I couldn’t resist getting this Mother’s Day special with its gorgeous sparkly pink glitter cover.
Peppa and George want to give Mummy Pig a very special day to show her just how much they love her, but things don’t always go entirely to plan!
So, if like me you watch endless TV episodes of Peppa Pig with your children, then why not treat yourself to a sparkly Peppa Pig book just for you this Mother’s Day!
Published by Ladybird, 8 February 2018
ISBN: 978-0241321508
How to Spot a Mum by Donna Amey Bhatt and Aura Lewis
I chose this as a first top pick for 2021, and it’s stayed in my heart forever more. How to Spot a Mum 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 is published by Quarto, 2 February 2021
I am very grateful to the publishers for providing me with complimentary copies of these books. This voluntary feature contains my honest opinion.
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