Mother-Theme children’s book recommendations are by Angela Ferraris, The Retired School Librarian.
(This content contains Amazon affiliate links. When you buy through these links, I may earn an affiliate commission at no additional cost to you).

Mother-Themed children’s books can be shared throughout the year, not only on Mother’s Day or as a baby shower gift for an expecting mother. Young readers like to cuddle and read with their moms all year long.
Board Books

ABCs of Love for Mom (Books of Kindness)
by Patricia Hegarty (Author), Summer Macon (Illustrator). Publisher : Rodale Kids. 2023, Baby-3. Board Book. ISBN-13 : 978-0593651926.
Brief summary: A rhyming alphabet book board book teaching the ABCs as well as the correlating social and emotional words that Moms share and do with their children.
For more details or to buy, click here.
Rating: 3/5 📗📗📗
This book is one of the “Books of Kindness” series. Learn more here.

Mommy’s Kisses and Cuddles
by Linda Ashman (Author), Jane Massey (Illustrator). Publisher : Cartwheel Books. 2023. 3-5 years old. Hardcover. ISBN-13 : 978-1338359770.
Brief summary: A calming rhyming book with moms and their children sharing the different parts of the day.
Please note: This books is a cross between a board book and a picture book with heavier cardstock paper but not cardboard. The size is 7.32 x 0.39 x 8.03 inches.
For more details or to buy, click here.
Rating: 3/5 📗📗📗
You may be interested in “Daddy’s Hugs and Snuggles” from this author. Learn more here.


Amazing Moms
by Alison Brown (Author). Publisher : Silver Dolphin Books. 2023. Baby-2. Board Book. ISBN-13 : 978-1667203928.
Brief summary: Cute animal moms interact with love and support to their babies, all with rhythm and rhyme.
For more details or to buy, click here.
Rating: 3/5 📗📗📗


She Is Mama
by Mackenzie Porter (Author), Heather Brockman Lee (Illustrator). Publisher : Little Simon. 2023. Baby-2. Board Book. ISBN-13 : 978-1665926980.
Brief summary: Mothers care for their children in various activities and are always there. This book is in rhyme.
For more details or to buy, click here.
Rating: 3/5 📗📗📗

Picture Books

If You Were the Moon, My Love
By Alina Loux (author & illustrator). Publisher : Ken-Ken Books. 2023. PreK-2. Hardcover. ISBN: 979-8-9865279-4-9.
Brief summary: This gentle rhyming and rhythmic lullaby of unconditional love for a parent to a child will give your little one sweet dreams.
Each stanza is a single illustration that extends across both pages with calm, eye-pleasing colors. At the same time, the four-line stanzas have an ABCB rhyming pattern that is soothing to the ears.
For more details or to buy, click here.
Rating: 4/5 📗📗📗📗
* I received a complimentary digital copy of this picture book for an honest review.

Sari-Sari Summers
by Lynnor Bontigao (Author, Illustrator). Publisher : Candlewick. 2023. PreK-2. Hardcover Picture Book. ISBN-13 : 978-1536226140.
Brief summary: Nora is old enough this summer to help her lola, her grandmother, in the sari-sari store in the Philippines. The granddaughter cleans all of the shelves that hold various items in the little store.
A heat wave comes, and all the customers stay home from the hot sun. Lola has an idea to bring back business.
Traditional text as well as speech bubbles. Recipe on the back page. Several two-page spreads.
For more details or to buy, click here.
Rating: 3.5/5 📗📗📗1/2


Milko
by Samuel Narh & Freda Narh (Author), Alisa Knatko (Illustrator). Publisher : Chasing A Spider Publishing . 2023. Grades 1-2. Hardcover Picture Book. ISBN-13 : 978-1734789720.
Brief summary: Milko misses his mother, who has gone to Ethiopia for a year instead of being home with them in Bolivia. His sister, Abena, cries too, but Papa cannot console them. No one does it like Mama.
Milko counts down the days. Will she ever return?
I recommend this to school counselors/librarians/teachers, and parents who are away for jobs/military deployment/social work.
For more details or to buy, click here.
Rating: 4/5 📗📗📗📗

One Day
by Joanna Ho (Author), Faith Pray (Illustrator). Publisher : HarperCollins. 2023. Baby-2nd Grade. Hardcover Picture Book. ISBN-13 : 978-0063056923.
Brief summary: A mother cradles her infant son and dreams and shares all the wonderful ways her boy will be as he grows up.
Beautiful two-paged spread illustrations.
For more details or to buy, click here.
Rating: 4/5 📗📗📗📗


Because I’m Your Mom
by Ahmet Zappa (Author), Dan Santat (Illustrator). Publisher : Little, Brown Books for Young Readers. 2023. PreK-2. Hardcover Picture Book. ISBN-13 : 978-0316338219.
Brief summary: A monster mom tells her child all the fun and silly things they can share together, no matter how outrageous they may seem.
For more details or to buy, click here.
Rating: 3.5/5 📗📗📗1/2
If you enjoy this book, you may be interested in reading Because I’m Your Dad.


Miss Irwin
by Allen Say (Author, Illustrator). Publisher : Scholastic Press. 2023. Grades PreK-3. Hardcover Picture Book. ISBN-13 : 978-1338300406.
Brief summary: Andy notices his grandmother’s front door is open and stops by to let her know. He discovers his mother is watering the roses. Andy goes inside the kitchen to keep his Grandma company. He notices a white box and takes it to her, wondering what is inside.
His grandmother believes she is his kindergarten teacher, Miss Irwin. Andy plays along, remembering that his mother told him his grandmother was struggling with her memory. He learns about a boy named Willie and what is inside the box.
Allen Say certainly captured Alzheimer’s with a compassionate story all can understand. The illustrations of the images are not seen clearly and symbolize blurred memories.
For more details or to buy, click here.
Rating: 5/5 📗📗📗📗📗

Mommy Time
by Monique James-Duncan (Author), Ebony Glenn (Illustrator). Publisher : Candlewick. 2023. PreK-2. Hardcover Picture Book. ISBN-13 : 978-1536212266.
Brief summary: A stay-at-home mom spends time with her boy as the father and sister are away. The daughter is collected from school, and now the two children share mommy time.
The book is about a day in the mom’s life and the time she spends with her children.
For more details or to buy, click here.
Rating: 3.5/5 📗📗📗1/2
