Five Beautiful Children’s Books to Share on Mother’s Day
Mother’s Day can be a lovely opportunity to slow down and share a story together. A thoughtfully chosen book is more than a present: it creates time to connect, laugh, explore beautiful illustrations and build memories that can last far beyond the day itself.
Originally published in 2016, these five recommendations were all tried and tested in our own home. From comforting stories and intricate artwork to playful interactive pages, each one offers something for children and adults to enjoy together.
A Lion in Paris by Beatrice Alemagna
A Lion in Paris follows a lonely lion who leaves his quiet home for the excitement of the city, hoping to find somewhere he truly belongs. His journey through Paris unfolds across wonderfully oversized pages filled with Beatrice Alemagna’s distinctive collage-style illustrations.
The story feels adventurous, gentle and reassuring, while the beautiful production makes the book a lifelong keeper. It is the kind of picture book that feels just as special to give as it does to read together.
Press Here by Hervé Tullet
Press Here invites children to press coloured dots, shake the book, blow on the pages and watch as their actions appear to transform what happens next. With no flaps or complicated mechanisms, Hervé Tullet uses simple illustrations and playful instructions to turn reading into a wonderfully interactive game.
It is clever, funny and perfect for sharing. Children become part of the story, while adults have every excuse to join in, use their imaginations and enjoy the surprise together.
Grandma’s House by Alice Melvin
Grandma’s House follows a little girl as she searches through a series of intricately illustrated rooms for her grandmother. Gentle rhyming text guides the journey, while cut-outs to peer through and pages that open up encourage children to explore every corner of the house.
Alice Melvin’s artwork feels warm, detailed and wonderfully nostalgic, with each room offering new objects and memories to discover. It is a comforting book to curl up with and a lovely celebration of the special places and people connected to childhood.
Pierre the Maze Detective by Hiro Kamigaki and IC4Design
Pierre the Maze Detective is a wonderfully detailed puzzle adventure in which Pierre must stop the mysterious Mr X from stealing the Maze Stone. Readers trace their way through 15 intricate mazes while searching for clues, solving challenges and exploring magical worlds filled with cities, treetops and haunted houses.
The densely illustrated pages reward patience and close observation, with far more to discover than the main route alone. Each maze takes time to solve, making this an absorbing book for children and adults to work through together.
When I Grow Up by Patrick George
When I Grow Up uses alternating acetate pages to transform each picture as children imagine themselves in different roles. With one turn of the page, they can become pilots, zookeepers, superheroes and more.
The clever visual changes make the book feel playful and surprising, while the different possibilities create an easy starting point for conversations about interests, ambitions and the future. It is another wonderfully original example of Patrick George’s interactive design.
Whichever book you choose, its real value lies in the time spent sharing it. A favourite story can become part of a family’s traditions, creating moments that children and adults remember long after Mother’s Day has passed.
