Mother’s Day just passed, but we want to keep celebrating mom and one of the many ways to show your mom your love could be through books. The following books are all picture books that are geared for ages four through eight unless otherwise indicated.
Our Mothers’ Names: Love in Many languages, by Uma Menon and perfectly illustrated using mixed media brightly displaying many other cultures by Rahele Jomepour Bell, showcases how children from different parts of the world say mom. When a young girl tells her mom, “Thank you Amma”, her friend who is visiting asks her what it means. This begins a conversation, in first person, with the reader telling the many ways to say “mom” in different languages. The girl’s parents are from India. Her friend’s family is from Mexico and calls her mom “Mama”. The strong interconnection throughout the world with the love of mom prevails in this teachable story. Be sure to check out the end-pages displaying the many ways to say mom.
Be My Yummy ABC, by Joyce Wan, reads like a love letter from mom to child. This smallish-size book is filled with bright on every page. Each page displays a letter, in alphabetical order, with a yummy food or treat that begins with that letter. The food shown is from all over the world so there is much more to learn besides the initial sounds of the alphabet. The zippy text also rhymes. For “S”: My crunchy, munchy, warm SPRING ROLL. For “T”: The TACO of my heart and soul. This book is best suited for ages three through six. The book cover opens to a large poster of the alphabet with the food learned in the book.
Chicka Chicka I Love Mom, based on Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin Jr. and John Archambault and boldly illustrated by Julien Chung, is a smallish size book perfect for small hands ages two through six. In the tradition of the popular book by Martin, this follows a similar rhyming pattern that you can almost tap your foot as you read through the alphabet. Each brightly colored letter is on display as well as the love for mom. Even the end-pages seem to sing with the alphabet on display.
I Love You, Little Horse, by Gianna Marino, is a beautifully told picture book with a simple yet strong message: the strong love of parent and child. This lyrically written story begins at dawn as gorgeously painted on display on the inside covers. As the adult horse leans down to her colt, she asks, Tell me, Little Horse, how will you celebrate this beautiful day? As the day progresses, the parent highlights the loveliness of all that surrounds them. The pages are filled with color and each picture is on display on the open page. The colors become brighter and shadows appear as the sun begins to set. Marino painted the horses and all that surrounds them majestically using gouache and ink on watercolor paper. The concluding end-pages perfectly end the day.
Rainbow Bear, by Bill Martin Jr and Michael Sampson and vividly illustrated by Nathalie Beauvoir, is a newly illustrated version of this classic story. Little Bear is waking up from sleeping all winter and tells his mommy that he is hungry. She exclaims, Then go outside and eat some berries, Little Bear. They are yummy. Each open page shows a different colored berry as he begins to fill his tummy. His bear body begins to partly take on a color of the berries he just ate. By book’s end, he tells his mommy, I’m your RAINBOW BEAR! There are several elements to learn besides his relationship with his mommy like bears hibernate and the order and colors in a rainbow.
The Ways We Say I Love You, by Caroline Hadilaksono, demonstrates the many ways and reasons to express love to a family member. It could come from the expression of love and encouragement or how one is treated specially or helped when help is needed. One open page has a young girl learning to ride a bike with mom right there every step of the way. Mom’s encouraging words help the girl succeed. I got you. Keep going. You’re doing great! I’m so proud of you. The bright illustrations, made with watercolor and gouache textures composed digitally, are filled with hues of yellow and light tones creating a positive glow of love.
Max and Mama, by Laura Numeroff and nicely illustrated by Masha Sudovykh, celebrates the strong bond between mother and child. A mom and her son, (both are depicted as a dog and her pup), have a fun day planned together. Mom prepares a nice breakfast for Papa and son and then they begin their adventure as Papa waves goodbye. All that these two do together throughout their day showcase the strong love and bond they have. Their day concludes with reading a story and falling asleep with the anticipation of a new day.
Mommy, Will You Rub My Feet?, by Jessica Jones and tenderly illustrated by Susana Ramirez Solis, is the perfect story when children are having growing pains in their legs and feet. After tossing and turning in his bed, Taj finally goes to Mommy for help. She finally discerns it must be aches from all his movements and activities of the day. As she goes to get a warm towel, he asks, Mommy, will you rub my feet? The love and bond between mother and child is strong in this sweet book
