Ten Picture Books About a Mother’s Love
Mother’s Day is just around the corner. For a mom, more important than any gift on this day is simply soaking in the moments together with family. All too often I can forget to find joy in the busyness of chasing after the toddler, attending to the preschooler, instructing the 2nd-grader, and giving sound counsel to the teenagers.
I need to remember to pause in the midst of the bustling home, look around and take inventory of all that brings me joy. I don’t need a day set aside once a year to do this, but Mother’s Day is surely a great reminder that while this job of mom is no small task, it surely is a meaningful calling.
On Mother’s Day we appreciate the moms, grandmas, and stand-in moms who helped shape us through various stages of life. In honor of celebrating a mother’s love, I have put together a list (amazon links included!) of ten sweet picture books to read with your young ones. Picking up a book and drawing our children near is a great way to pause in the midst of a busy day and connect in a meaningful way.
Take a look! You might just find some of these books on your own shelves at home.
1. The Runaway Bunny by Margaret Wise Brown
This is one of my absolute favorites on our bookshelf at home. The baby bunny is so darn cute and his playful antics remind me of my own little toddler.
“If you run away,” said his mother, “I will run after you. For you are my little bunny.”
In this playful book of imaginary hide-and-seek, baby bunny keeps running away from his mother. No matter where he hides, mother bunny is sure to find him every time. My little girls love pointing out the hidden bunny and his mama as she finds him
2. Love You Forever by Robert Munsch
Love You Forever is a timeless book about the unconditional love a mother has for her son. The cycle of life is depicted through the experiences of a young son and his mother.
Softly she sings to him:
“I’ll love you forever
I’ll like you for always
As long as I’m living
My baby you’ll be.”
3. Llama Llama Red Pajama by Anna Dewdney
Any mother who has dealt with nighttime drama will surely relate to this story of little llama and his mama. In the end, llama mama’s patience perseveres as she tucks her little one in to bed.
I enjoy reading silly stories when they capture the attention of my kiddos. The bold illustrations and the lilting, rhyming words in Llama Llama Red Pajama keep their eyes glued to the pages every time.
Little Llama,
don’t you know,
Mama Llama
loves you so?
Of course, any of the Llama Llama books are fun to add to your home collection. Some other stories of little llama and his mama are Llama Llama Home with Mama and Llama Llama Misses Mama.
4. Wherever You Are My Love Will Find You by Nancy Tillman
The beautiful words describing the gift of love are just as dazzling as the illustrations that move across the pages. No matter what situation a child find himself in, a mother’s love is always there.
. . . I wanted you more than you’ll ever know, so I sent love to follow wherever you go. . . .
5. Are You My Mother? By P. D. Eastman
Nearing baby bird’s arrival into this world, his mother leaves the nest to bring back something to eat for her baby. As soon as she leaves, baby bird hatches and goes in search of his mother. Not knowing what his mother looks like makes it a challenge for baby bird to find her.
He encounters a kitten, a hen, a cow, an airplane, and even a snort, but none of them are his mother. In the end, there is a pivotal moment of recognition where baby bird bonds with his mama.
”Where am I?” said the baby bird. “I want to go home! I want my mother!”
This timeless 1960’s classic is a book of tradition. No doubt, many parents today had this book read to them when they were children and will want to pass along this story.
6. I Love Mom with The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
I Love Mom is a simple yet moving message to Mom of all the reasons she is loved. With classic Eric Carle illustrations, this book would make a beautiful and practical replacement for a Mother’s Day card. In fact, I think I’ll drop it in my Amazon cart right now for the two mothers in our life who so graciously give of their time to invest in our children’s lives.
You are so wise,
and never forget me.
Even when…
I monkey around,
or get snappy.
7. If Kisses Were Colors by Janet Lawler
Janet Lawler writes in gentle verse about the immeasurable love of a mother. A mother’s kisses are compared to colors of a rainbow, glowing comets, flower bouquets, and warm blankets.
If kisses were blankets, you’d always be warm,
wrapped up from the cold during winter’s worst storm.
8. Someday by Alison Meghee
You know that emotion you feel when you read something that just tugs at your heart? That’s what this book does to me. The author shares from a mother’s perspective the potential she sees in her daughter as she looks ahead to one milestone after another. The simplistic illustrations along with the hand-lettering add to this ode that tells of every mother’s dream for her child to live life to its fullest.
Sometimes, when you sleep, I watch you dream, and I dream too . . . .”
9. Sweet Child of Mine by Caroline Jayne Church
Perfect for the littlest readers in your life, this book tells of the enduring love of a parent no matter how much things in life change. This book is printed in hardcover, yet a little squishy, with stiff pages, which hold up quite well to sticky fingers and drooling teethers.
I love you in the morning at the start of every day.
I love you in the evening when sunshine goes away.
Caroline Jayne Church also illustrated other books that whimsically profess a caregiver’s love for a child. Another of our favorites at home includes I Love You Through and Through by Bernadette Rossetti-Shustak.
10. I Love You As Much… by Laura Krause Melmed
Ever since we received this book as a baby gift for our son, it has been a favorite board book to read with our children. From a mother horse to a mother whale, this book journeys through a variety of mother animals as they compare their love for their babies to various wonders in nature. The final pages bring us into the peaceful warmth of a mother snuggling with her sleeping baby.
Said the mother whale to her child,
“I love you as much as the ocean is deep.”
Your children will love naming the animals in the beautiful painted illustrations as you page back through the book again and again.
Hopefully this list of books inspires you to steal away with your children for a few moments to take some time to connect with a story. Whatever the age of your children, remember that you matter to them, mama, more than you know!
Would you share this post on social if you enjoyed this list of books? That way others can be encouraged to celebrate “Mom” as they read a book to a child. Also, I’d love to hear from you what picture books you would add to this list!
