Mother, madre, talli, however you say it moms are important and special figures in our lives. Their strength, nurturing and love shape the very world we live in and is one of the greatest influences on the planet. This book list feature diverse picture books that feature mothers from different cultures all over the world from India, to the Philippines to North America. Each one is a beautiful celebration of mothers as well as culture and heritage and each one is positively beautiful.
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Tomato’s for Neela by Padma Lakshmi and Juana Martinez-Neal- I adore this one! In the story a young Indian girl makes tomato sauce with her mother and is a tribute to heritage, food and family.
Mira’s Curly Hair by Maryan Al Serakal and RebeCA Luciani- In this story Mira learns to embrace herself when she discovers commonalities she has with her beloved mother. Beautiful and impactful.
Mama’s Belly by Kate Hosford and Abigail Halpin- This gorgeously illustrated book features a family that is preparing to add another child to the mix. It shows not only the sweet relationship growing between them and their unborn baby, but the tender relationship of the mom and the older child as they prepare together.
I Sang You Down from the Stars by Tasha Spillett-Sumner and Michaela Goade- In this book a Native American mother prepares for the birth of her little one. She gathers small items of importance in a bundle for her new babe. Items that will bring them strength, connection to heritage and more throughout their life.
Your Name is a Song by Jamilah Tompkins-Bigelow and Luisa Uribe- his book is a celebration of names of every kind. It features a young girl who is upset because her teacher got her name wrong on the first day of school. Her mom gently reminds her how wonderful her name is and that she can speak up to help others get it right.
Like the Moon Loves the Sky by Hena Khan and Saffa Khan- This book is an expression of love between mother and child and is inspired by prose in the Quran. It is sweet and tender.
Mommy’s Khimar by Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow and Ebony Glenn- I love this book. It tells of the sweet association a young girl has between her mother and khimars and how they make her feel.
Love by Corinne Averiss and Kirsti Beautyman- In this story a young girl is nervous to go to school because of the physical separation between her and her mother. Her mother explains that love is like an invisible string that always connects us and it is simply lovely.
How to Spot a Mom by Donna Amey Bhatt and Aura Lewis- This book features a diverse set of moms and highlights their different strengths. It mentions the everything from the crafty moms to the outdoorsy mom and celebrates each one. It is witty and fun.
Dreamers by Yuyi Morales- This one is gorgeous! It tells the story of a Mexican immigrant mother and the difficulties as well as joys of immigration. Both the text and illustrations are incredible.
Cora Cooks Pancit by Dorina K Lazo Gilmore and Kristi Valiant- A filipino girl and her mother cook pancit together in the kitchen and Cora learns a bit about her ancestory and heritage as well. Such a well done and beautiful book.
Mama Do You Love Me? by Barbara M. Joosse and Barbara Lavallee- This book is a lovely affirmation of unconditional love from mother to child. In the story the child questions different scenarios and if their mother would still love them. Of course, the answer is always a resounding “yes”.
Hush! A Thai Lullaby by Minfong Ho and Holly Mead- This book has the most rhythmic text as the story tells of a mother who tells everyone to be quiet for her sleeping baby from the buzzing mosquito to the largest of elephants until the night is swept in peaceful silence.
My Name is Bana by Nana Alabed and New Riaz- In this book (written by Bana and based on her true experiences) Bana’s mother teachers her more about her heritage and the meaning of her name. It also mentions the refugee experience and is very well done.
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