10 Must-Read Picture Books to Celebrate Moms (that also make great gifts)
Mother’s Day is on Sunday, May 12. How are you going to celebrate?
I enjoy breakfast in bed. Some years, I prioritize self-care and get a massage, facial, and/or my hair done. Other years, I spend it at home relaxing with my kiddo. But one tradition that has stood the test of time has been reading picture books about mothering.
In our fast-paced world, it's easy to overlook the importance of expressing gratitude towards the incredible mothers in our lives. Picture books offer a beautiful medium to convey messages of love, appreciation, and the unique bond between a mother and child. Whether it's through touching illustrations, heartfelt storytelling, or valuable life lessons, these books have the power to create lasting memories and strengthen the mother-child relationship.
My mom was a busy single mom and did not get to read to me before bed every night because she worked and was going to school. But she carved out time to read to me on Mother’s Day. She started this tradition that I now practice with my own daughter.
As a Dominican and Puerto Rican Mommy, I celebrate Mother’s Day all month long because I acknowledge American Mother’s Day on the second Sunday of May and Dominican Mother’s Day on the last Sunday of May.
I hope you enjoyed this list of 10 books you can use to kickstart your Mother’s Day celebrations. Make sure you request them from your local library, and if you love these books as much as I do, buy them for a Mom you love who needs to be reminded how amazing she is.
1. Your Mama by NoNieqa Ramos (Author), Jacqueline Alcántara (Illustrator)
A sweet twist on the age-old “yo mama” joke, celebrating fierce moms everywhere with playful lyricism and gorgeous illustrations, Your Mama is an essential Mother’s Day read.
Yo’ mama so sweet, she could be a bakery. She dresses so fine, she could have a clothing line. And, even when you mess up, she’s so forgiving, she lets you keep on living.
Heartwarming and richly imagined, Your Mama twists an old joke into a point of pride that honors the love, hard work, and dedication of mamas everywhere.
2. Mamá's Panza by Isabel Quintero
A body-positive picture book about a young boy’s love for his mother and his mother’s belly.
Everyone has a panza—it can be big and round, soft and small, or somewhere in between. But a young boy’s favorite panza of all is Mamá’s. Her panza is capable of remarkable things, and she loves it as an important part of herself. Her panza was also his first home. Even before he was born, it cradled and held him.
When he’s feeling shy and needs a place to hide or when he wants somewhere to rest during a bedtime story, Mamá’s panza is always there. With affirming text by Isabel Quintero and vivid art by Iliana Galvez, Mamá’s Panza is a young boy’s love letter to his mother, along with a celebration of our bodies and our bellies.
3. Mommy's Khimar By Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow & Illustrated by Ebony Glenn
Selected as a Best Book of 2018 by NPR, Kirkus Reviews, School Library Journal, and Shelf Awareness!
A young Muslim girl spends a busy day wrapped up in her mother’s colorful headscarf in this sweet and fanciful picture book from debut author and illustrator Jamilah Tompkins-Bigelow and Ebony Glenn.
A khimar is a flowing scarf that my mommy wears.
Before she walks out the door each day, she wraps one around her head.
A young girl plays dress up with her mother’s headscarves, feeling her mother’s love with every one she tries on. Charming and vibrant illustrations showcase the beauty of the diverse and welcoming community in this portrait of a young Muslim American girl’s life.
4. Me & Mama By Cozbi A. Cabrera
Mama’s love is brighter than the sun, even on the rainiest of days. This celebration of a mother-daughter relationship is perfect for sharing with little ones!
On a rainy day when the house smells like cinnamon and Papa and Luca are still asleep, when the clouds are wearing shadows and the wind paints the window with beads of water, I want to be everywhere Mama is.
With lyrical prose and a tender touch, the Caldecott and Coretta Scott King Honor Book Mama and Me is an ode to the strength of the bond between a mother and a daughter as they spend a rainy day together.
5. When I See You By Brynne Barnes & Illustrated by Brianna McCarthy
An imaginative picture book with enchanting verse and whimsical illustrations journeying through the “galaxy” in a pregnant mother’s belly as she prepares to welcome her child into the world.
As an expectant mother anxiously awaits the birth of her child, she envisions the mystical place her baby inhabits, dreaming of a colorful world where they dance, explore, and play. Rejoice in the magic and wonder of welcoming a child into the world while reflecting upon the infinite nature of a mother’s love with this charming story.
6. Just Like a Mama By Alice Faye Duncan & Illustrated by Charnelle Pinkney Barlow
Celebrate the heart connection between adopted children and the forever families who welcome them with kindness, care, and unconditional love in this powerful picture book from the author of Honey Baby Sugar Child.
Carol Olivia Clementine lives with Mama Rose. Mama Rose is everything—tender and sweet. She is also as stern and demanding as any good parent should be. In the midst of their happy home, Carol misses her mother and father. She longs to be with them. But until that time comes around, she learns to surrender to the love that is present. Mama Rose becomes her “home.” And Carol Olivia Clementine concludes that she loves Miss Rose, “just like a mama.”
This sweet read-aloud is, on the surface, all about the everyday home life a caregiver creates for a young child: she teachers Clementine how to ride a bike, clean her room, tell time. A deeper look reveals the patience, intention, and care little ones receives in the arms of a mother whose blood is not her blood, but whose bond is so deep—and so unconditional—that it creates the most perfect condition for a child to feel safe, successful, and deeply loved.
7. For You, I Will by Elle Duncan, illustrated by Laura Freeman
This gorgeous and heartfelt picture book is a love letter from a mother to her daughter. The mother promises to cheer for her daughter at every stage while preparing her to dream big, be confident, and love herself.
8. Mama and Mommy and Me in the Middle by Nina LaCour, illustrated by Kaylani Juanita
This adorable story illustrates how children miss their family members when they’re apart. A little girl’s Mommy goes on a work trip, leaving her home with Mama. They find activities to fill the time, but nothing soothes the emptiness better than Mommy returning home.
9. In My Heart By Mackenzie Porter & Illustrated by Jenny Løvlie
A working mother reassures her child that even when they’re apart, they’re always in each other’s hearts. This lovely board book is perfect for moms to share with their little ones.
Though we’re not together
we’re never truly apart,
because you’re always on my mind
and you’re always in my heart.
This is what a mother tells her child as she leaves for work each day. This lovely board book perfectly captures the sentiment that many women feel about being a working mom. The lyrical text takes us through a mother’s day away, showing us that although she’s working hard, her child is always on her mind and always in her heart.
10. The Bronx Is My Home by Alyssa Reynoso-Morris and Kim Holt
Welcome to The Bronx, New York! Discover the history, landscape, cuisines, cultures, and activities unique to the Bronx in this winning picture book celebration of hometown pride.
There's only one place where you can see bodegas and businesses bustling on every street, taste the most delicious empanadas in the world, smell the salty sea air of Pelham Bay, and pet horses at the Bronx Equestrian Center. From sunrise to sunset, Santiago and Mami have many treasures to enjoy in their neighborhood on a beautiful Saturday, including colorful birds on the Siwanoy Trail and fresh cannolis on Arthur Avenue. Santiago explores the Bronx with his Mom while also honoring her as one of his Bronx heroes. This energetic and joyful family story offers both a journey through and a love letter to this special borough.
