When we picture Mother’s Day, flowers, cards, and breakfast trays often come to mind, but some of the most meaningful celebrations begin in a quieter place: a child curled up beside a mother, listening to a story that speaks to their heart and helps them understand care and connection. The warmth of a mother’s devotion shines forth in daily care and kindness. Children feel this love long before they can use words to talk about those feelings. Stories give children another way to recognize affection and love.
Picture books with engaging illustrations and a story that speaks to the heart can not only captivate a young child’s imagination and attention but also inspire, uplift, and educate. This is one of my purposes in writing for children. We can learn much about a mother’s steadfast care, for example, by reading the book That’s Why I Love You, Snicklefritz! Snicklefritz is an active young boy brimming with energy and fun. He doesn’t mean for things to go awry, but when they do, who is at the ready with a hug? Who is there to help him pick up the pieces and sweep up the mess? Who teaches Snicklefritz that care endures, for always and no matter what? Mom.
A good storybook can teach the language of kindness in action. Books give children a way to understand safety and belonging. Social stories give them a model for how to care and show grace to the people we hold dear, and they remind children that when we make mistakes, the people who cherish us will be there to guide our path and help us be the best we can be. When a mother and child share these stories, bonds deepen, and lessons settle in a child’s heart.
Mother’s Day can also be a joyful time to reflect on the importance of family and the honored role a mother plays. Books that depict heritage, culture, and the bridge between generations teach the value of family ties. This can open the opportunity to share beloved personal stories woven into the family fabric—stories that make us smile and laugh at the memory. Read a book, then tie it to a cherished moment in your own life. Do you remember when we went to the bakery together and chose little petit fours for your birthday, like in the story Pansy Is Coming to Tea? Or when we went to the farm with Grandma and saw how vegetables grow, like we read about in Do You Know Where Your Food Grows? Did you know that when I was your age, I had a pet mouse, just like George the Mouse in George the Mouse in a Log Pile House? Let me tell you about the time I asked my parents to buy me a mouse because I “needed it” for the science fair… Children can learn that Mom is more than the bustling lady who keeps everything operating smoothly at home—she was once a child like them.
A well-written book can model generous acts. The best Mother’s Day gifts don’t come in a box or a bag. They are the simple moments shared in happiness, warmth, and togetherness. A book that shows doing a special thing for Mom on her special day, like picking flowers or helping in the kitchen, might inspire a child’s thoughtfulness. If a reader sees a character making a card or being kind to a younger brother or sister, that just might help them act with kindness and think of others. These are moments shared that live on in our memories and shape how we see the world around us.
Share a story. Mother’s Day is a beautiful time to begin. All you need is a good book and a lap. This is not just a gift for mother—it’s a lasting gift for everyone.
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Rebecca Atanassova loves writing books for children. Inspired by simple and amusing moments with her three children, Rebecca shares stories about kindness, love, acceptance, positivity, and the wonder found all around us. Her book Your Heart Can Hold the Whole Universe is an Independent Press Award Distinguished Favorite. Rebecca’s childhood friendship with another pet mouse helped her bring George the Mouse in a Log Pile House to life.
