Mother's Day: picture books about mums

Held in Love

To celebrate Mothering Sunday, why not share one of these illustrated books featuring marvellous mums?

It's a good excuse to have some quiet time with little ones or talk through any issues with older children.

Together, you can celebrate all the different kinds of special mums in the world!

Books that feature single mums

It's also a great opportunity to send one of our Mother's Day e-cards and support us in getting children and families reading together.

Send a card

  • Zeki Loves Mummy

    Author: Anna McQuinn Illustrator: Ruth Hearson

    Interest level: 2-3

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  • Zeki Loves Mummy

    Author: Anna McQuinn Illustrator: Ruth Hearson

    Interest level: 2-3

    Reading age:

    Somewhere between a board book and a picture book, this is ideal for two to three year olds who will enjoy the rhyming text and sw…

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  • Mommy, Mama and Me

    Author: Leslea Newman Illustrator: Carol Thompson

    Interest level: 0-3

    Reading age: N/A

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  • Mommy, Mama and Me

    Author: Leslea Newman Illustrator: Carol Thompson

    Interest level: 0-3

    Reading age: N/A

    What a treat: a warm and adorably illustrated board book about a loving family which just happens to have two mums in it. There's …

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  • Mummy and Me

    Author: Lydia Bright Illustrator: Jojo Clinch

    Interest level: 4-5

    Reading age: 2-3

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  • Mummy and Me

    Author: Lydia Bright Illustrator: Jojo Clinch

    Interest level: 4-5

    Reading age: 2-3

    Etta and Mummy Elephant are a Terrific Team of Two, enjoying adventures together. A charming picture book that celebrates imaginat…

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  • Is That Your Mama?

    Author: Patrice Lawrence and Diane Ewen

    Interest level: 4-5

    Reading age: 2-3

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  • Is That Your Mama?

    Author: Patrice Lawrence and Diane Ewen

    Interest level: 4-5

    Reading age: 2-3

    Josie doesn’t look like her mum, and  worries that she should. But her family show her that all families are different, and a…

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  • Mama’s Sleeping Scarf

    Author: Nwa Grace-James (AKA Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie) Illustrator: Joelle Avelino

    Interest level: 4-5

    Reading age: 7+

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  • Mama’s Sleeping Scarf

    Author: Nwa Grace-James (AKA Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie) Illustrator: Joelle Avelino

    Interest level: 4-5

    Reading age: 7+

    While waiting for her mama to return from work, Mama’s sleeping scarf becomes an object of magic and whimsy in Chino’s imaginative…

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  • My Mum is a Lioness

    Author: Swapna Haddow Illustrator: Dapo Adeola

    Interest level: 4-5

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  • My Mum is a Lioness

    Author: Swapna Haddow Illustrator: Dapo Adeola

    Interest level: 4-5

    Reading age:

    The delightful sequel to Haddow and Adeola’s My Dad is a Grizzly Bear features a powerful, energetic mum who is very muc…

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  • My Must-Have Mum

    Author: Maudie Smith Illustrator: Jen Khatun

    Interest level: 4-6

    Reading age: 6+

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  • My Must-Have Mum

    Author: Maudie Smith Illustrator: Jen Khatun

    Interest level: 4-6

    Reading age: 6+

    There is so much to enjoy in this charming, inclusive picture book, which beautifully celebrates diversity, acceptance and uncondi…

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  • Mummy Time

    Author: Monique James-Duncan Illustrator: Ebony Glenn

    Interest level: 3-5

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  • Mummy Time

    Author: Monique James-Duncan Illustrator: Ebony Glenn

    Interest level: 3-5

    Reading age:

    Wake up, it’s mummy time! A warm and reassuring picture book about the everyday life of a stay-at-home mother and her two children…

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  • Held in Love

    Author: Dawn Casey & Oamul Lu

    Interest level: 5-7

    Reading age: 6+

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  • Held in Love

    Author: Dawn Casey & Oamul Lu

    Interest level: 5-7

    Reading age: 6+

    This beautiful, quiet book captures a new mother’s hopes for her new baby, and a message that whatever happens in life, love will …

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  • Mummy's Special Day

    Author: Frances Stickley Illustrator: Carolina Rabei

    Interest level: 4-5

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  • Mummy's Special Day

    Author: Frances Stickley Illustrator: Carolina Rabei

    Interest level: 4-5

    Reading age:

    A sweet story about a Mother’s Day that doesn’t go quite according to plan is a riot of colourful detail, delighting in the chaos …

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  • The Best Mum

    Author: Penny Harrison Illustrator: Sharon Davey

    Interest level: 3-5

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  • The Best Mum

    Author: Penny Harrison Illustrator: Sharon Davey

    Interest level: 3-5

    Reading age:

    Funny and silly with lots of brilliant detail in the illustrations by Sharon Davey, this is a celebration of all different kinds o…

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  • Superhero Mum

    Author: Timothy Knapman Illustrator: Joe Berger

    Interest level: 4-6

    Reading age: 5+

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  • Superhero Mum

    Author: Timothy Knapman Illustrator: Joe Berger

    Interest level: 4-6

    Reading age: 5+

    No one is more heroic for the little girl featured in this retro Pop Art-styled picture book than her playground-chasing, cake-mak…

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  • My Mums Love Me

    Author: Anna Membrino Illustrator: Joy Hwang Ruiz

    Interest level: 2-3

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  • My Mums Love Me

    Author: Anna Membrino Illustrator: Joy Hwang Ruiz

    Interest level: 2-3

    Reading age:

    This adorable picture book with warm toned illustrations celebrates the daily routine of a baby and the fun that can be had all da…

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  • Who's Your Real Mum?

    Author: Bernadette Green Illustrator: Anna Zobel

    Interest level: 4-5

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  • Who's Your Real Mum?

    Author: Bernadette Green Illustrator: Anna Zobel

    Interest level: 4-5

    Reading age:

    This warm, imaginative picture book has a clear message that, with same sex parents, both mums or dads are childrens’ “real” paren…

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  • The Best Mother

    Author: C M Surrisi Illustrator: Diane Goode

    Interest level: 5-7

    Reading age: 6+

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  • The Best Mother

    Author: C M Surrisi Illustrator: Diane Goode

    Interest level: 5-7

    Reading age: 6+

    Maxine suspects that if she had a different mother, things would be much nicer – until she talks to some other mums. A f…

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  • The Strongest Mum

    Author: Nicola Kent

    Interest level: 3-5

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  • The Strongest Mum

    Author: Nicola Kent

    Interest level: 3-5

    Reading age:

    Children’s books celebrating mums often focus on all the great things mums do and how tireless and inventive they are, so it’s lov…

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  • The Pocket Chaotic

    Author: Ziggy Hanaor Illustrator: Daniel Gray-Barnett

    Interest level: 2-5

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  • The Pocket Chaotic

    Author: Ziggy Hanaor Illustrator: Daniel Gray-Barnett

    Interest level: 2-5

    Reading age:

    Alexander is a baby kangaroo who loves snuggling up in his mum's warm, cosy pouch. The only problem is she's extremely messy - and…

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  • Sometimes

    Author: Emma Dodd

    Interest level: 1-4

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  • Sometimes

    Author: Emma Dodd

    Interest level: 1-4

    Reading age:

    This is a warm book about unconditional love. A perfect book for encouraging children to do what they want with reassuring support…

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  • My Mum

    Author: Anthony Browne

    Interest level: 2+

    Reading age: 6+

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  • My Mum

    Author: Anthony Browne

    Interest level: 2+

    Reading age: 6+

    All small children love their mums and in this colourful and entertaining picture book, Anthony Browne explains exactly why.

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  • Dino-Mummy

    Author: Mark Sperring Illustrator: Sam Lloyd

    Interest level: 3+

    Reading age: 5+

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  • Dino-Mummy

    Author: Mark Sperring Illustrator: Sam Lloyd

    Interest level: 3+

    Reading age: 5+

    Dino-Mummy celebrates the multi-tasking super-dino who not only looks after two lively dino-babies and keeps their home in order, …

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  • I Love My Mummy

    Author: Giles Andreae Illustrator: Emma Dodd

    Interest level: 2+

    Reading age: 6+

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  • I Love My Mummy

    Author: Giles Andreae Illustrator: Emma Dodd

    Interest level: 2+

    Reading age: 6+

    What is it about Mummies that makes them so lovable and so very special?

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