10 Books That Celebrate Mothers

What could be a better way to celebrate Mother's Day than to snuggle up with a special little someone and a good book? In these 10 books, we celebrate moms and grandmothers, and the special relationships they share with the children in their lives. Happy Mother's Day!

BOOKS FOR PRESCHOOLERS (AGES 2 TO 5)

The New Baby Calf, by Edith Newlin Chase and Barbara Reid
"Buttercup the cow had a new baby calf, a fine baby calf, a strong baby calf." This poem, accompanied by Barbara Reid's plasticine art, is a celebration of the bond between a mother and child. We follow the growth of a young calf as he learns to stand, walk and explore his surroundings, all with the tender encouragement of his mother. Young readers will surely see the connection to their own lives.

Bearcub and Mama, by Sharon Jennings; illustrated by Mélanie Watt 
Bearcub follows Mama wherever she goes. At her side, he learns to catch fish and find honey. One day, Bearcub finds himself alone in a storm. He relies on what he's learned from Mama to get through the storm. Bearcub and Mama is a story about growing up, and contains the hope that all parents have for their kids: that we prepare them to be okay on their own.

The Sweetest One of All, by Jean Little; illustrated by Marisol Sarrazin
Every barnyard animal wants her own sweet little babe. As each baby is born, it asks, "Who are you?" and "Who am I?" With gentle rhyme and subtle repetition, readers learn the names of barnyard babies, all the while confirming that to every mama, her babe is the sweetest one of all.
 

Mom and Me, by Marla Stewart Konrad 
Part of Tundra Books' World Vision Early Readers' series, Mom and Me shows young children how much we have in common, no matter where we live or who we are. Striking photographs and simple text show children from around the world doing everyday things with their mothers, and will inspire discussions on how we are different, but also how we are the same. Royalties from the sale of the book support World Vision's work with children.

Guess How Much I Love You, by Sam McBratney; illustrated by Anita Jeram
How can you measure love? That's what Little Nutbrown Hare tries to do, but somehow Big Nutbrown Hare always seems to outdo him. This sweet story of a parent and child's love has been a favourite of mine since I had my first "Little Nutbrown Hare." Though the parent in this story isn't in fact a mom, I couldn't leave this book out of this list, because it perfectly expresses how powerful the bond is between a parent and child.

BOOKS FOR THE SCHOOL-AGED (AGES 6 TO 9)

Oma's Quilt, by Paulette Bourgeois; illustrated by Stéphane Jorisch
In this gentle picture book, Oma, Emily's grandmother, moves from her house on Maple Street to a retirement home. It's a difficult transition, and inspired by one of her Oma's quilts, Emily decides that they should make a quilt for Oma out of all the things she loves. As we read through the book, we notice the similarities between Emily, her mother and Oma, which reminds us that we can be both mothers and daughters at once.

My Great Big Mamma, by Olivier Ka; pictures by Luc Melanson 
This little boy's mamma is big, very big. But that's the way he likes her. So when she goes on a diet because of what others say about her, he's not pleased. He becomes a picky eater to show her how silly she is. This unconventional story shows us the power of a child's unconditional love, and how our behaviour as parents influences our children.

Cinnamon Baby, by Nicola Winstanley; illustrated by Janice Nadeau 
Miriam the baker makes the most amazing breads - the best is her cinnamon bread, which she bakes at the end of each day so the smell will last longest. Eventually, Miriam and her husband, Sebastian, become parents to a beautiful baby. At first, the baby is happy and lovely, but soon the baby begins to cry nonstop. Only when Miriam heads back to the bakery and begins to create her wonderful breads is the baby happy again. Clearly, the bond between mother and child reaches way back, even before birth.

Abuela, by Arthur Dorros; illustrated by Elisa Kleven
Rosalba's grandmother doesn't speak much English, but that doesn't stop the two of them from enjoying an adventure that takes them soaring over New York City. Spanish vocabulary is interspersed in the text, and a glossary is included at the back. The collage illustrations lend a joyous energy to this story of intergenerational love between a child and her grandmother.

Alligator Baby, by Robert Munsch; illustrated by Michael Martchenko
Kristen's parents head off to the hospital. She's going to be a big sister! Only, they get lost and end up at the zoo instead. After they bring home the wrong baby a few times - an alligator, a seal, a monkey - Kristen decides she'll get her baby brother back. This hilarious book by the Munsch/Martchenko team is a wacky account of new parenthood where, in true Munschish style, a kid saves the day.


We'd love to know your thoughts on our book list! Just write to us in the comments below. And if you have your own favourites, include those, too!