Mother’s Day is coming up, which is the perfect chance to celebrate all of the love, sacrifice, hard work, and devotion moms give to their children. We’ve compiled a list of Mother’s Day picture books that will help give your child (or husband?) ideas on how to celebrate, as well as some picture books about the love between a mother and her child that can be read year round.
Show a mom in your life how much you care by giving her one of these books. Or if you are a mom of little children, what better way to celebrate than cuddling up with your child and reading them a book about how much you love them (and work super hard for them!). Many of these books would also be great ideas to give to a new mom at a baby shower.
Mother’s Day Picture Books
Each of these picture books below is specific to Mother’s Day and give ideas or stories around celebrating the holiday. These would be great to buy or rent from the library ahead of time to prepare your child on how to celebrate their mom and make their day as special as possible.
What NOT to Give Your Mom on Mother’s Day
Written by Martha Seif Simpson, Illustrated by Jana Christy
Ages 3 – 6 years| Picture Book
It’s a silly, funny book on all of the things a mom would not want for Mother’s Day. While of course, we would never want these things, it helps kids think about what their mom would like for Mother’s Day and gets kids thinking about someone else.
Buy Online: Amazon | IndieBound
The Night Before Mother’s Day
Written by Natasha Wing, Illustrated by Amy Wummer
Ages 3 – 5 years | Picture Book
This lyrical, rhyming story is fun to read and will be familiar to readers who enjoy the familiar Twas Night Before Christmas poem. It includes some good ideas for kids on how to pamper and appreciate their mom. One of the great Mother’s Day picture books to help prepare your child for the holiday.
Buy Online: Amazon | IndieBound
Pinkalicious: Mother’s Day Surprise
Written and Illustrated by Victoria Kann
Ages 4 – 8 years | Picture Book
Gifts are fine, but what moms really want on Mother’s Day is to be appreciated. This book does just that. Plus, this book includes a pull-out poster with stickers for a child to list the things they love about their mom. That poster alone would make a wonderful Mother’s Day gift from a child!
Buy Online: Amazon | IndieBound
Fancy Nancy’s Marvelous Mother’s Day Brunch
Written by Jane O’Connor, Illustrated by Robin Preiss Glasser
Ages 4 – 8 years | Lift-the-Flap Book
Fancy Nancy is beloved over here in our house, and this book is no different. Her message of looking beyond just herself and thinking of others is a great reminder, especially on Mother’s Day. Plus, there are so many things to point out to your child when reading this book. Highly recommend, especially if you have a daughter!
Buy Online: Amazon | IndieBound
T. Rex and the Mother’s Day Hug
Written by Lois G. Grambling, Illustrated by Jack E. Davis
Ages 4 – 8 years | Picture Book
T. Rex tries to make this Mother’s Day extra special for his mom, but can’t think of the perfect gift for her. After going through many options, he realizes all she ever really wanted was a hug. Funny, cute, and relevant to all kids’ struggle to find the best gift for their mom on Mother’s Day.
Buy Online: Amazon | IndieBound
The Berenstain Bears: We Love Our Mom!
By Jan and Mike Berenstain
Ages 3 – 8 years|Picture Book
This is one of the newer Berenstain Bear books, and it highlights all of the ways Mama Bear cares and loves for her little cubs. It is about Mother’s Day but could be applicable at any time of the year to help kids understand all that their mom does for them.
Buy Online: Amazon | IndieBound
Books About a Mother’s Love
Moms deserve to be celebrated more than just on Mother’s Day, and these books are perfect for showing just how special moms are in a child’s life. These picture books would be a wonderful gift for a mom at a baby shower, a gift to a new mom, or a sweet just-because gift for a mom who needs some encouragement.
I Love My Mommy Because…
Written by Laurel Porter Gaylord, Illustrated by Ashley Wolff
Ages 1 – 3 years | Board Book
This sweet board book lists some of the reasons why children love their mothers, beginning with a little boy and his mom, and then showing relationships between animals and their moms. It not only teaches children the names of different species and their children, such as deer and fawn but also gives examples of all of the ways a mother shows her love. Simple, yet lovely board book.
Buy Online: Amazon | IndieBound
My Mom is Magical!
Written by Sabrina, Illustrated by Eunice Moyle
Ages 2 – 5 years | Board Book
I can’t think of any little girl would not love this vibrant, fun board book. The book tells how magical moms really are with metaphors and analogies in lyrical, alliterations to help build vocabulary. And the illustrations are bright and whimsical. If you like this book, you may also enjoy its companion My Dad is Amazing.
Buy Online: Amazon | IndieBound
Mama’s Day with Little Gray
Written by Aimee Reid, Illustrated by
Laura J. Bryant
Ages 2 – 5 years | Picture Book
Have you ever imagined trading places with your child? A little elephant and her mom spend the day together and imagine what life would be like if they traded places. It is a great book for a young child (toddler or preschool age) all about the warmth and kindness between a mother and her child with sweet, soft illustrations.
Buy Online: Amazon | IndieBound
If Kisses Were Colors
Written by Janet Lawler, Illustrated by Alison Jay
Ages 3 – 7 years |Picture Book
An ode to how kissable sweet little babies and children are. This book is sweet, sentimental and would be a great gift for any new mom.
Buy Online: Amazon | IndieBound
A Chair for My Mother
Written and Illustrated by Vera B Williams
Ages 4 – 8 years | Picture Book
After losing their home in a fire, Rosa works hard and saves her money to buy a chair for her mom. The illustrations are simply wonderful, and the story is inspiring, invoking hope, determination, a sense of accomplishment, and community. Note, some kids, such as toddlers or preschool-aged children, may be too young to understand the concepts of fire and loss. loss and fires. Nevertheless, it is a beautiful tale of hard work and devotion a little girl has for her mother.
Buy Online: Amazon | IndieBound
Mama Says: A Book of Love for Mothers and Sons
Written by Rob D. Walker, Illustrated by Leo Dillon and Diane Dillon
Ages 5 – 8 years | Picture Book
This book is a soulful and lovely collection of poems that teach a lesson in a gentle, yet firm manner. The lessons are from a mom to her son and include themes such as kindness, courage, honesty, and faith. The artwork is diverse and each of the poems is written in another language to match the corresponding illustration.
This book would be a perfect gift for Mother’s Day, a baby shower for a mother expecting a boy, or to a boy for his birthday. You could even send it with your son to college — boys of all ages need these lessons!
Buy Online: Amazon | IndieBound
Mama, Do You Love Me?
Written by Barbara M. Joosse, Illustrated by Barbara Lavallee
Ages 3 – 6 years | Picture Book
Mama, do you love me? is a universal question asked by children, testing how much a parent loves them. The mom answers assuringly “Yes I do, Dear One.” and answers all the child’s questions on how much she loves her child. It is set in Alaska and is a great introduction to Alaskan culture and environment. The back pages include a summary of all of the different types of animals and customs of Inuit people. Lovely story and illustrations!
Buy Online: Amazon | IndieBound
A Gift for Mama
Written by Linda Ravin Lodding, Illustrated by Alison Jay
Ages 4 – 8 years | Picture Book
Oskar is searching for the perfect gift for his mom, but he only has one single coin. He wanders Vienna looking for the best present and along the way interacts with many interesting people. What he ends up with is a true treasure. It is truly a lovely story with lovely artwork. This book would be a treasured book to give to any mom.
Buy Online: Amazon | IndieBound
Koala Lou
Written by Mem Fox, Illustrated by Pamela Lofts
Ages 4 – 7 years | Picture Book
Koala Lou used to receive a lot of attention until her siblings were born and her mom was busier than ever. Thinking her mom doesn’t love her as much, she enters a contest to try to win her affections back. After much training, she is disappointed with the second place medal but realizes that her mother loves her no matter what.
The illustrations are very expressive — you can tell how Koala Lou is feeling from her facial expressions and the love from koala’s mom on her face. A lovely book with scenes and references to the Australian bush. It would be a great book to give to an older child who has younger siblings to remind them that even though their mom’s time is divided, she loves them just as much as before.
Buy Online: Amazon | IndieBound
A Mother for Choco
Written by Keiko Kasza
Ages 2 – 5 years |Picture Book
Choco longs for a mother and in on a search to find a mom who looks like him. But when he can’t find his mom, Mrs. Bear rushes over to comfort him. She asks Choco what a mom would do, then she starts to do all of the things a mom might do. He then realizes there are a lot of ways to make a family besides looking the same.
This a great book about adoption and would be a perfect book for an adopted mom, single mom, or a caregiver who loves on a child that is not their own. Highly recommend!
Buy Online: Amazon | IndieBound
Hair for Mama
Written by Kelly Tinkham, Illustrated by Amy June Bates
Ages 4 – 8 years | Picture Book
Get out the tissues — this one will have you dabbing your eyes before the end of it. Marcus’ mom lost her hair undergoing treatment for cancer and doesn’t want to be in the family picture this year. Marcus does all he can to try to make her feel better. Told in the perspective of the child, it is a touching story of love and hope. It would be perfect to read to a child whose family or friends are undergoing illnesses.
Buy Online: Amazon | IndieBound
I’ve Loved You Since Forever
Written by Hoda Kotb, Illustrated by Suzie Mason
Ages 4 – 8 years | Picture Book
A heartwarming, lyrical book is about how a mother and her child found each other. It is a simple, yet poignant book on adding a child to your family, and would be a lovely gift for a mom via adoption or after a long wait for a child. The illustrations are gorgeous!
Buy Online: Amazon | IndieBound
These are only a handful of hundreds of great Mother’s Day picture books for kids. If you have a favorite Mother’s Day kids book, please leave a comment or feel free to contact us!
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