All over the world, all different kinds of moms raise children. While the methods they use might be different, the love they have for their children is universal.
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These diverse children’s books about moms explore the many different ways mothers show love to their children. Some children may read these books and see moms and families that look just like theirs; others will see people and situations that are very different than their own. But all children will see that, no matter what, love is what makes a family.
I hope these books make your parent/child time extra-special!
15 Diverse Children’s Books About Moms
Book links are Amazon referral links.
Mommy’s Khimar by Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow – Follow a sweet little girl as she plays with the flowing scarves her mother wears. Mommy has khimars in many different colors and patterns, and her daughter loves using them to dress up and play pretend. Every child who plays dress up in their parents’ closets can relate! This lovely book is perfect to read with preschoolers.
Hero Mom by Melinda Hardin – The moms in this book are amazing — they fly planes, drive tanks, build buildings and save lives. Hero Mom is a wonderful tribute to military moms who make sacrifices for their family and for their country. A diverse group of moms is show doing awesome and powerful things! This is an excellent read for elementary-aged kids, and especially those with mothers who serve in the armed forces.
Hush! A Thai Lullaby by Minfong Ho – “Hush! Who’s that weeping in the wind?” A mother is trying to put her little baby to sleep, but she has to keep shushing the animals around her so her little one can rest peacefully. Any parent who has tried to get a fussy baby to sleep will be able to relate! This is a fun book to read at bedtime, and is perfect for kids from preschool to third grade.
How Mamas Love Their Babies by Juniper Fitzgerald – This excellent book shows all the ways that mamas use their bodies to care for their children, both before birth and after. It features moms breastfeeding, working, protesting, and even dancing at a strip club, to show all the ways mothers can be good parents to their children. This book is groundbreaking in its portrayal of a parent who is a sex worker, and it also features a diverse collection of mothers and powerful illustrations. I recommend reading this book with kids ages 4 and up.
Mama’s Saris by Pooja Makhijani – Told in the first person, this story follows a little girl who is celebrating her seventh birthday. She wants to wear a beautiful sari like her mother, but she’s not yet old enough. As she helps her mother choose a sari to wear at her birthday party, her mother realizes how important it is for her daughter to feel like a “big girl” on this special day. The mother lets her daughter choose a sari to wear, and the little girl loves getting to look like her mother for a day. I’d recommend this book for kids ages 5 and up.
My Mommy Medicine by Edwidge Danticat – As my boys get older, they get more and more independent — except when they’re sick. There’s something about illness that makes us crave a mother’s tender loving care. In this book, a little girl wakes up not feeling well. What does she need to make her feel better? Mommy medicine! Mommy always knows just want to do to help her feel better. This is a book that all kids can relate to, and it’s great for reading with preschoolers.
My Mommy is a Hero by Hannah Tolson – Another excellent book about military moms! This book shows all the different kinds of work that military mothers do, and the different kinds of places that they work. No matter the job, every parent that serves in the armed forces is a hero! This is an excellent read for kids ages 4 and up.
A Night Out with Mama by Quvenzhané Wallis – Young Academy Award nominee Wallis has created a bright and fun story about her own award show experience. In this book, a little girl is excited for a night out with mom. There will be fancy clothes, a fancy car, and, of course, ice cream! But most of all, the evening will be a special night with a very special parent. This is great for reading with kids ages 4 and up.
Mommy, Mama, and Me by Leslea Newman – This sweet board book shows the loving bond between mothers and their children. Toddlers and their moms spend a day playing, learning, and growing together. This book is the perfect choice for sharing with very young children who have two moms, and will help all children see how much different types of families have in common.
Hair For Mama by Kelly A. Tinkham – Every October, the Carter family takes a family picture. However, this year, Mama won’t be in the picture. Mama has cancer, and the chemotherapy treatments have caused her to lose her hair. Her son Marcus doesn’t want to have a family photo without her, so he sets out to find his mama some hair for the family photo. Things don’t work out quite the way Marcus imagined, but he learns that, while hair is important, family is the most important thing of all. Because of the subject matter, I’d probably recommend this book for school-aged children.
My Mama is a Mechanic by Doug Cenko – This sweet book shows how a young boy views his mother. She’s a quarterback when she throws him the football, a chemist when they bake together, a surgeon when she fixes his teddy bear, and an architect when they build with blocks. But most of all, he sees is mama as a superhero! This book is perfect for moms to read with their preschoolers.
What is Given from the Heart by Patricia C. McKissack – I absolutely love this book about the power of love and kindness. James Otis and his mother have had a rough few months since his father passed. When another family at church loses everything in a fire, James Otis wonders how his family could possibly help when they have so little. In this beautiful story, James Otis learns the meaning of the words his pastor shares with them on Valentine’s Day: “What is given from the heart, reaches the heart.” Best for reading with children ages 5 and up.
Sweetest Kulu by Celina Kalluk – Kulu is an Inuktitut term of endearment for babies, and this book is a sweet poem about the love and joy a newborn baby brings. The animals of the Arctic bring gifts to a sweet little Kulu, while the text shares a parent’s love. This board book is an excellent choice for babies and toddler, and is the perfect bedtime read for kids of any age.
Lullaby (For a Black Mother) by Langston Hughes – This gorgeous poem by Langston Hughes has been turned into an even-more-gorgeous picture book, with illustrations by Sean Quallis. This book celebrates the love a black mother has for her baby, and captures all of the joy and wonder of rocking a baby to sleep. It’s excellent to read at bedtime with little ones of any age, and also makes a wonderful baby shower gift.
Dreamers by Yuyi Morales – This gorgeous book explores what it means to start a new life in a new place. It chronicles the author’s own journey from Mexico to the United States with her infant son, Kelly. No matter where we come from, we all have dreams, hopes, fears, and people we love. We are all dreamers. This book is wonderful for reading with kids of all ages.
