On the occasion of Mother’s Day this Sunday, May 8, we recommend some books that celebrate all that our mothers do for us.
Great Job, Mom! by Holman Wang
Moms are the ultimate multi-taskers. They rally their little troops like generals; they think of fun activities for the kids, like finger painting; they find lost socks, and they do all this while also working their day job. So, once in a while, mothers love when they’re thanked for what they do, or just told ‘great job, mom!’ This delightful picture book comes from author, photographer, and creator of felt figures, Holman Wang, renowned for his beloved Cozy Classics and Star Wars Epic Yarns series of children’s books. Each diorama in the book features felt figures and is meticulously detailed and photographed by Wang himself. Little readers will find lots of tiny details in each rhyming spread of this book that gently prompts kids to appreciate everything their moms do for them. Grades Preschool-1
All Moms by Sarah Kate Ellis and Kristen Ellis-Henderson, illustrated by Max Rambaldi
All Moms is a busy, vibrant, and lively tribute to different types of moms and the amazing things they do. The moms featured in this book work all sorts of jobs and they do a variety of things for their kids and for the betterment of society. The care, support, and love they give make us stronger, smarter, kinder, and happier. Created by married team of Sarah Kate Ellis, the president and CEO of GLAAD, and musician Kristen Ellis-Henderson, this is an inclusive picture book that celebrates all moms, everywhere. The illustrations are colourful and chock-a-block with details and information that can spark interesting discussions with curious minds poring over this book. Grades Preschool-2
I Love You More by Emil Sher, illustrated by Barbara Reid
Emil Sher’s and Barbara Reid’s I Love You More can be considered a companion piece to Holman Wang’s Great Job, Mom! in that, while Wang works with felt, Reid works with modelling clay and all the illustrations have a handmade and unique look. In the book, we follow a day in the life of a young boy named Des, who lives in a vibrant and diverse neighborhood with his mom. From morning to night Des and his mom find creative and humorous ways to say “I love you more than…” that involve word play, such as “I love you more than cones love ice cream” or “I love you more than erasers love mistakes.” For little readers, this word play doesn’t end with the book. The “Now It’s Your Turn” section encourages them to come up with their own “I love you more than…” using the same set of playful rules and order of the pairings used by the author. This is a richly illustrated book that kids will have fun looking at, even as they try creative ways to say “I love you” to their mothers. Grades Preschool-2