We’ve gathered a selection of titles for young readers—including celebratory board books, picture books, and keepsake collections—to enjoy with their families this Mother’s Day. Stay tuned for our Father’s Day roundup in June.
Can You See My Mommy?
Children can turn the peek-through pages of this board book to help the little critters find their mothers. Rhyming text makes for an inviting Mother’s Day readaloud.
I Love Mommy Every Day
This picture book by Otter serves as an early lesson in anaphora, each spread featuring a sentence beginning with “Mommy” on the left-hand page and a line of further explanation on the right: “Mommy is a guiding star./ Wherever she leads, I follow,” reads one spread. Back matter invites readers to fill in a list of three blanks answering the question, “What do you love best about your Mommy?” This novelty picture book will serve well as a gift to expecting mothers or those with young kids.
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I Love You, Mom
Jin and Pink assemble flowers for mothers in this board book, which is accordingly shaped like a bouquet. Each spread features a different-colored floral varietal whose name is highlighted in corresponding text, followed by a brief rhyming elaboration. Children will enjoy spotting the flowers in this readaloud that’s as much greeting card as book.
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The Meanest of Meanies: A Book About Love
A purple monster with aquamarine hair chafes at their mother’s love in this picture book debut by bestselling comedic duo Hensley and Smedley. Vibrant digital illustrations by Briggs have a friendly animation-style appeal, and parents and children alike will find recognizable situations and attitudes.
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Tough Like Mum
According to “everyone in town,” Kim is “tough” like her single mother, who works as a waitress and for whom it’s difficult to make ends meet. Mok offers simple gouache and colored-pencil art, underlining this sensitive portrayal of the bond between one mother and child navigating difficult circumstances and whether to welcome help.
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With Love: Mommy, You’re Amazing
This keepsake book designed for mothers and children to share features a space to add handprints, a built-in envelope for storing trinkets, and die-cut frames for photos.
Your Mama
Ramos reconfigures a well-known joke format into an uplifting exultation of motherhood in this bouncy debut. “Your mama so sweet, she could be a bakery,/ all frosting, powdered sugar, and pastries,” opens Ramos. The first line appears in a banner on a verso page, before smoothly incorporating Spanish on the recto: “Leaves love notes in your almuerzo, homemade./ She’s the cinnamon to your tembleque,/ the tres leches to your cake.” Vivacious spreads depict a majority cast of color.
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