Beautiful Board Books to gift Mums this Mother’s Day

Love is in the Little Things

• Written by Stella J Jones
• Illustrated by Jane Massey

It only took my first read through of this book for it to resonate with me on a level not reached by every book all or any of the time, and that is because of how beautifully this book has been written. Love has been poured into every line, evident from each and every page, but especially the stunning way in which the writer portrays the intent with such beautiful text :

I love you as tall as the trees,

as deep as the seas and as far as the shimmery moon!

And all the way back again?

For forever and beyond.

As you will see from the quote I have used above, there are two different font types – and this is because the book has two characters, and we get input from both. Whilst they have their obvious differences, such as one is big and the other small, the pair are united in how much love they have for one another, and the lengths they would go to also. These aren’t grand obnoxious gestures, quite the opposite, they are those little things that often get overlooked but mean the absolute world when somebody does. Its those big meaning little things like holding the door for someone, a smile, carrying the shopping bag – and someone doing those things for you truly shows they care. They notice the little things you need or want and help make them a reality, and whilst the big gestures are often more obvious to people I would agree that the smaller things are only noticed by those who genuinely pay you the attention it would require. It shows they listen.

With softly drawn illustrations that have a comforting and cosy feel to them, we accompany the pair as they interact with one another in an array of outdoor locations and at home too. Little ones will be able to easily recognise much of the content, and hearing the text further gives them comprehension of what is being depicted, with the one thing that needs no explanation being the love and adoration between the little girl and the big bear. This is clear to see in the illustrations just as much as it is detailed in the text, and the two voices being included in the book makes for some adorable reading when the little girl asks those cute innocent things little ones ask, and the bear responds in kind with reassurances and even shares how unconditional their love is when it is still apparent even when they aren’t getting along.

This sort of book is such a modern day classic in the making, and will undoubtedly be cherished by those who receieve a copy, and the ability to dedicated the book to/from on the inside cover is the cherry atop the cake for sure.

World’s Best Mum

• Written by Isabel Potter
• Illustrated by Lynn Giunta

With Mother’s Day soon to arrive, this is the latest absolutely perfect Board Book for little ones to share with her, and the sentiment included within will resonate with both parties. It really is the most beautifully illustrated book, and each two page spread features a pop-up that stretches the expanse, and brings that which is written to life using various animals. One is a parent and the other a child within the animal kingdom, and using these gives a comforting feel to the illustrations, and there design further fuels the warm feeling this book affords to readers.

The world’s best mum is always there

to catch me when I fall.

Mum lifts me up and shows me the way

If ever I feel lost.

The world’s best Mum belongs to me,

and she is amazing!

I particularly love the use of a variety of colours used across the book, especially the backgrounds of the pages which reflect the surroundings of either the animals featured within that page or the context of the short yet sentimental sentences, and this works really well. The reference to the Sun and Moon and Day and Night have a light blue background for daytime and a darker blue background for the night time, and this giving a clear definition to the differing elements of that which is being discussed and/or depicted is what makes this book a huge success for me.

I do also like the many things that have been squeezed into this book that also serve as educational/learning opportunities for little ones such as the opposites of day and night I just mentioned, the different animal species’ included and their natural habitats being depicted perfectly by the wonderful illustrating within, and also the range of colours, but at the heart of this book is the sentiment of the love and protective nature of a mum to/with their child(ren) and it resonates perfectly with the reader.

From they way a mother is a protector, has unwaivering and unconditional love for their little ones, and the reassurances and guidance we do like a natural instinct with our children, this is all beautifully depicted in this book, and the way it is done literally gives you the emotional response you’d expect not only as a parent but it also resonates from the perspective of the child – which is the narrative utilised. This is the perfect title for mothers to be, new mums, and with Mother’s Day just around the corner I will be recommending this title to all those mums I know with little ones (and to their respective partners who could gift this from the child, something that would allow this book to be cherished for sentimental reasons alongside it just being perfect).

You’re My Little Mama Bear

• Text by Nicola Edwards
• Illustrated by Natalie Marshall

I have loved the titles in the “You’re My Little” series from Little Tiger, and am therefore delighted to have recieved this latest title, Mama Bear. This is literally a term of endearment I have heard many refer to their Mum as, and it immediately gives the relevant connotations – and that is reflected in the front cover image, the embossed Mama Bear cradling her offspring.

With beautiful rhyming sentences throughout, what makes this book super special is each two page spread uses the narrative of a Mama animal, utilising a range of animals to show all the emotions a mother has for her child.

I’m your lucky mama deer,

I’m proud of all you do.

Although we may be similar,

There’s no one quite like you.

This book features a variety of embossed animals and corresponding cut outs, and these help incorporate two of the two page spreads together in theme, with us being introduced to a baby animal and then the turn of the page sees the Mama right there beside them. I love this mixture of format being used as it keeps the content original, and ensures little ones are engaged throughout too. Cut outs in books are always such a huge hit with babies and toddlers.

I’m your playful mama fox,

And you are playful too.

When it comes to fun and games,

No one can outfox you.

The other striking aspect of this beautiful board book is the bright and vibrant colour palette used to give the different pages clear division, but also reflect a sense of happy and fun too. I definitely love the use of nature in the backgrounds, with colours that do justice to that which is being portrayed whether it is leaves or flowers, and how comforting and cosy some settings are compared with others being bright and energetic as a result of the chosen colours and context given in the text too.

The way the book draws to a conclusion with the very last sentence being “sing you a lullaby” allows parents to transition from this book into bedtime routines of singing lullabies (something I do when I babysit my nephew), and I really appreciate this little detail as I am sure others sharing this book will too. If I had to pick a favourite section to this book I think I would choose the elephant scenes, with the beautiful print on the leaves bordering Mama and baby elephant on the pages, and the early evening lighting that is portrayed by the blue hues used, which gives them cosy, sleepy, comforting feel – something that compliments the text reflecting how much care and attention Mama’s pay little ones.

It cannot be easy to create a book that does justice to the unspoken bond between a mother and child, something that comes so naturally, like instincts that are unlocked during labour, but this book makes it look so easy as it does so perfectly. The emotive text evokes everything you feel as a parent, even when you wouldn’t be able to put it into words yourself let alone in a way that means little ones would be able to comprehend it, and that is achieved perfectly here. Little ones will snuggle into the reader all the more as each page is turned and more and more of the unique bond they share is reflected within the book being shared. Such a beautiful experience to be able to offer, and that is why this is the perfect book to gift Mum’s – especially with for Mother’s Day.