great picture books with maternal relationships as a central theme
Best for… Going to sleep without mum
Too Small for my Big Bed by Amber Stewart OUP HB Out March
Tiger cub Piper refuses to sleep on his own – he doesn’t want to be by himself in the dark and his bed is too big. As he and his mother go on adventures during the day, he learns that his mum doesn’t have to be right next to him to be near, and finds the courage to sleep in his own bed. Children finding it difficult to spend a night alone will take comfort in Piper’s plight and should grow in confidence. A great book, colourfully illustrated by Layn Marlow.
Best for… Learning with mum
Sometimes… Emma Dodd
Sometimes by Emma Dodd Templar PB Out March
A modern classic which is soon to be released in paperback, Sometimes uses animals to demonstrate the parent/child relationship. This story, about a mummy and baby elephant, is simply and cheerfully illustrated. The simple rhymes (“Sometimes you’re happy. Sometimes you’re sad. Sometimes you’re good. Sometimes you’re bad”) will help children to identify their feelings on the page, and will also teach them about opposites.
My Mum is Beautiful By Jessica Spanyol Walker PB Out now
“My mum is beautiful because…” is the running theme of this gorgeous picture book for young children. “She laughs when I wear her slippers” and “She has tea with teddy” are familiar activities for most parents and children, and readers will learn that ‘beautiful’ can mean a variety of things, not just how something looks. Jessica Spanyol’s illustrations are cool rather than overly cute, and will help parents recognise how much children appreciate the little things.