Tuesday, May 16, 2017

Moms in Picture Books


I love reading picture books, which is probably a good thing since it's a daily job requirement. In honor of Mother's Day this past weekend, here are some of my favorite picture books starring mommies!

1. Is Mommy? by Victoria Chang

In this picture book, children answer questions about their moms in hilarious fashion and loud, emphatic voices. Is Mommy pretty or ugly? Is Mommy nice or mean? I'm sure you can guess where this is going, but the ending is the best part. Moms are sure to love this heartwarming, if not honest, story of how children view their mothers.



2. Someday by Alison McGhee

You will need some tissues handy for this book of what a mother sees for her child and the future. This book tells the story of a mom with her baby who then gets older and older until that child has a child of her own. A beautiful circle of life book that warms the heart and shows how much we all love our mothers.


3. How to Raise a Mom by Jean Reagan

I love this series by Jean Reagan; they are very relatable to children, and adults will appreciate the humor too. This book gives step-by-step instructions for how to host the perfect Mother's Day. I think my favorite part is when the kids pile all their belongings at the door to take with them.


4. Mother Bruce by Ryan T. Higgins

Bruce is a bear and likes living by himself. He also likes to eat eggs. One day, after thinking he's cooked his eggs, they hatch! And, much to Bruce's dismay, they claim him as their mother.  He tries many tactics to get them to leave, but they always come back. This book is perfect for moms who just can't seem to get their little ones to leave the nest. {Pun intended.}



5. Little Mouse by Alison Murray

A little girl's mom gives her a nickname, Little Mouse, which she doesn't like. She spends the entire book telling all the different ways she's not a mouse. She's not timid but brave like a lion. She's not small but tall like a giraffe. But, after a day of adventuring and explaining the multitude of ways she'd not a little mouse, at the end of the book, she's read to be cuddly and cozy like a little mouse in her mother's arms. This would make a great bedtime story.


6. Mamasaurus by Stephan Lomp

Babysaurus gets lost from his mama after falling off her back. He treks through the jungle asking other dinosaurs if they've seen her. His explanations of her to his friends are delightful. If you are a fan of Are You My Mother by P.D. Eastman, then you'll love this book. It's perfect for little ones who love dinosaurs too! 



7. I Kissed the Baby by Mary Murphy

This is probably one of my favorite picture books of all time. I always recommend it to new moms. I love the high contrast of the artwork so that it draws the attention of even the littlest babies, and the story is absolutely adorable. It's short and sweet and all about the excitement of having a new baby to kiss and love and care for.


8. Hattie Peck by Emma Levey

On the surface, this is a beautiful story of a hen who wants to gather eggs to hatch them because she loves eggs and has never had one hatch. But, the more you read and think about it, you can tell it's an inspirational story for moms who have had a miscarriage and want to share their love with the world through adoption or being a foster family. Or...my interpretation could be completely off base. Either way, I love the story of Hattie Peck rescuing all the eggs she finds to raise them herself - no matter what hatches out of them.


9. My New Mom and Me by Renata Galindo

This is a beautiful and accessible adoption story. It focuses on how the little dog feels about being in a new home with someone who doesn't look like him but loves him unconditionally. The little struggle with his new environment and family, but his new mom helps him through it. I love the message of this book and how relatable it is.


10. Before We Met by Laura Krauss Melmed

The illustrations alone are reason enough to read the book. I melt every time I look at them. And when combined with the text of a mother anticipating the birth of her child, it creates something magical. This is a book I will definitely be purchasing for my future but currently non-existent child.

2 comments:

  1. Hey--

    Thanks for including my book, HOW TO RAISE A MOM, in this fun list! Your post put a smile on my face. :-)

    Jean R

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    Replies
    1. Glad to hear it! I love a picture book that both parents and children can enjoy together.

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