The perfect Mother’s Day book does not have to have “Mother’s Day” in the title. There are wonderful children’s books about mothers that can double as fantastic Mother’s Day gifts.
My Mom is Trying to Ruin my Life, written by Kate Feiffer and illustrated by Diane Goode, is an accurate portrayal of mothers everywhere: the mom in the title kisses her daughter goodbye, brings her a change of clothes during school, and talks way too loudly. To the little girl in this book, however, these are all ways that her mom is completely ruining her life! Life would be so much better for her if her mom went to jail. But then she’d be alone, and when she wanted dinner, no one would be there to cook it, and when she wanted a bedtime story, no one would be there to read it, and when the monsters and bad dreams came, no one would be there to hug her and scare them away. Maybe it’s not such a good idea; maybe her mom isn’t trying to ruin her life after all.
How Do Dinosaurs Say I Love You? written by Jane Yolen and illustrated by Mark Teague, is a great book for your own dinosaur lover who might be an angry T-rex at times. Though he stomps and throws fits, kicks your seat in the car, and wakes up in a bad mood, he’ll still smile sweetly, and give a kiss and a hug before bed, because that’s how a dinosaur says I love you. Be sure to read and look for the different dinosaur names on each page.
Llama Llama Mad at Mama, by Anna Dewdney, is a story moms have heard a million times with their own kids. Llama Llama goes to the Shop-o-rama with Mama, but it just turns into llama drama. Llama Llama doesn’t want to be at Shop-O-Rama, Llama Llama wants to be at home playing with his blocks and toys. Can Mama calm Llama Llama down and turn around this llama drama? Of course, because Llama Llama loves his mama.
And if you’re looking for a classic book about mothers, the Caldecott award winner, Blueberries for Sal, by Robert McCloskey, is a beautiful classic for Mother’s Day.
Happy Reading and Happy Mother’s Day!
My Mom Is Trying To Ruin My Life, by Kate Feiffer, Ages 3-7
