Indies GO ALL IN: 7 Books Celebrating Mothers and Grandmothers
- Lantana Publishing
- 9 hours ago
- 4 min read
May is finally here, and with it comes longer days, blooming gardens, and of course, International Mother's Day. Though we celebrate Mother’s Day in March in the UK, many nations around the world celebrated on the 10th of May, including: Australia, the USA, Canada, Germany, China and Japan. This month's booklist for our indies project for the National Year of Reading is a love letter to mothers and grandmothers in all their forms — the ones who stay up listening to our worries at ten o'clock at night, who teach us to grow things, who stitch themselves into the very fabric of who we are.
From handmade Mother’s Day cards and treasured jumpers to gardens full of memories and threads of love stretching across oceans, these stories celebrate the women who help us grow, comfort us when we are afraid and stay with us wherever we go.
Our April booklist spotlighted 6 funny children's books guaranteed to raise a smile. This month, we are joined by Wacky Bee, Scallywag Press, Red Robin Books, Book Island, Old Barn Books and Dinosaur Books. All the recommended titles are available for purchase here or in the links below! Stay tuned for next month's booklist!
1. A Card for My Mum
Written by: Bashabi Fraser
Illustrated by: Maanvi Kapur
Published by: Lantana Publishing
Buy this book: A Card for My Mum
Reading age: 2-5
It is Mother’s Day tomorrow and the shops are sparkling with lights and gifts, with people, laughter and excitement – looking for the perfect gift to bring a smile of joy to mums at home.
2. My Mum Is There
Written by: Martin Thomas
Illustrated by: Ag Jatkowska
Published by: Wacky Bee
Buy this book: My Mum Is There
Reading age: 4+
It’s not easy being small. Nothing is simple. Not speaking, sleeping or walking. Not counting, reading or swimming. Not even hopping or skipping or jumping! But the love of a mother is an amazing thing. With mum close by there’s no need to be scared. With mum close by anything is possible.
3. The Longest Strongest Thread
Written & illustrated by: Inbal Leitner
Published by: Scallywag Press
Buy this book: The Longest Strongest Thread
Reading age: 4+
We are moving to a new home, where the lakes freeze in winter.
I am visiting my Grandma to say goodbye.
Grandma says I mustn't worry that my new home is so very far away. She says that we two have the longest, strongest thread in the whole world, and she will surely fly all the way to find me.
4. Grandma and Grandpa’s Garden
Written by: Neil Griffiths
Illustrated by: Gabriella Buckingham
Published by: Red Robin Books
Buy this book: Grandma and Grandpa’s Garden
Grandma and Grandpa loved being together in their beautiful garden. They loved it too when their granddaughter Lucy visited and they taught her many gardening skills. Sadly, these long, happy days were not to last, but memories of them would live on.
5. The 10PM Question
Written by: Kate De Goldi
Published by: Old Barn Books
Buy this book: The 10PM Question
Reading age: 12+
Frankie Parsons is a worrier. Are the smoke alarm batteries dead? Does the cat have worms? Could that odd-shaped spot on his chest be cancer? What about bird flu?
Most of the people in Frankie's world – his father, his brother and sister, his great-aunts, his best friend – seem gloriously untroubled. Only Ma takes his catalogue of persistent anxieties seriously; only Ma listens patiently to his 10pm questions. But of course it is Ma who is the cause of the most worrying question of all.
6. Mum’s Jumper
Written by: Jayde Perkin
Published by: Book Island
Buy this book: Mum’s Jumper
Reading age: 4+
If Mum has gone, how do you carry on? Missing her feels like a dark cloud that follows you around, or like swimming to a shore that never comes any nearer. But memories are like a jumper that you can cuddle and wear. And Mum's Jumper might be a way to keep her close.
7. Children of the Benin Kingdom
Written by: Dinah Orji
Published by: Dinosaur Books
Buy this book: Children of the Benin Kingdom
Reading age: 7+
Ada has lived close to the great rainforest for her whole life, helping her beloved Papa Eze to heal fellow villagers when they fall sick. But when Papa Eze himself becomes unwell he knows it's time to reveal to Ada her true heritage - a closely kept secret that has so far protected his daughter from her enemies.
Ada must now travel deep into the forest to discover the ancient Edo kingdom of Benin and use everything within her power to heal the terrible divisions that are tearing the kingdom apart. Pursued by those who want her dead, Ada sets off on a journey which will test her strength to the limit … with just her close friends, the guidance of her ancestors and her own self-belief to help her.
Whether you're looking for a picture book to share on Mother's Day morning, a middle-grade story to press into a young reader's hands, or something to quietly recommend to a parent browsing your shelves, our indie publishers have you covered. Explore more of our indie booklists here!
