23 Mother’s Day Gifts for Book Lovers

For the mother who always says she’s going to cook more, gift her this super simple cookbook. The benefits of eating dinner together as a family are endless—from promoting better verbal and reading skills in children, to developing better social skills, and even lowering the chances of a teenager using drugs or alcohol. But for many working parents, the idea of cooking a homemade meal every night is daunting. In this gorgeous cookbook, Sarah Waldman lays out easy ways to make delicious and nutritious meals at home with very little work, and even includes tips on how to get kids involved with prepping the meals.

To buy: $19, amazon.com.

Before there was The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo, there was this book that inspired it all. Published for the first time in English, Nagisa Tatsumi gives easy advice on how to get rid of things that are just cluttering your life, instead of adding value to it. Additionally, she gives guidelines on how to acquire less stuff in the first place, so what she calls “accumulation syndrome” doesn’t return. Tatsumi believes that by changing our attitudes about our possessions we can rid ourselves of all the stuff we don’t actually need, opening the door to find joy in a clutter-free life.

To buy: $11, amazon.com.

In this funny debut novel from Tracey Barone, moms will enjoy the honest and complex story of Cheri Matzner’s complicated life and relationship with her own family. Abandoned and then adopted when she was just a baby, Cheri finds herself 40 years old, in a bad place with her own parents and her job, and trying to have a baby of her own. But she is no stranger to dysfunction or reinventing herself when she needs to. Moms will enjoy getting to know the imperfect characters in this story, who, despite constant surprises, pull through the difficult times in life.

To buy: $11, amazon.com.

For a book that Mom can read and share with her kids, gift her the newest book by Eric Carle. Filled with Carle’s signature colorful illustrations that have made his work famous, this book follows the Very Hungry Caterpillar as he celebrates Mother’s Day and all the incredible parents in the world. Carle brings to life yet another read with adorable illustrations of various animal mom-baby pairs throughout the story, something young children will love to read.

To buy: $6, amazon.com.

Moms interested in politics will love this history of the Feminist movement that follows the term from when it was once regarded as a dirty word to the present day, where it is plastered on T-shirts and adopted as a brand by celebrities. Throughout the book, Zeisler argues that, although the phrase (and its ideas) have been popularized in the mainstream, the acceptance of the phrase doesn’t mean women are any closer to becoming equal. Touching on movies, advertising, fashion and more, Zeisler explores how the “feminist” world around us has done little to push for real change.

To buy: $12, amazon.com.

Gift your mom this book and then give her a weekend of peace and quiet to read it, because she is not going to want to put it down. This national bestselling novel tells the story of Tess, a 22-year-old small town girl who moves to New York City and takes a thankless job at one of the top restaurants in Manhattan. Throughout the novel she learns about the ins and outs of the ultra-competitive restaurant industry, and the challenges of her job even when she’s off-duty. To complicate things further, Tess falls into a complex relationship with two of the other servers, a handsome bartender and an older woman.

To buy: $15, amazon.com.

This beautiful book is a string of memories between two women. Every day for a year, Lewis sent Conley a photograph of her children, and Conley responded with a story that spoke to the photo. What resulted is a collection of moments and stories that chronicle a child’s growth and a mother’s love for her family

To buy: $7, amazon.com.

Coupled with a set of freshly sharpened colored pencils, this intricately designed book has pages and pages of beautiful images for Mom to fill in. Adult coloring books are a craze… and for good reason—a few hours with these pages is the perfect excuse for some “me time.”

To buy: $7, amazon.com.

This New York Times bestseller will keep her entertained for hours on the beach, on the couch, or on a plane—wherever her summer travels take her. It follows four grown—albeit slightly dysfunctional—siblings as they look forward to receiving a family inheritance, which they hope will solve their problems. Sweeney’s novel deals with complicated—and sometimes dark—family dynamics in a funny and captivating manner.

To buy: $8, amazon.com.

There’s no better time to reflect on past presidents as the country heads into election season. Instead of looking at the Commander in Chief, however, this anthology looks at powerful First Ladies—often-underestimated women who are intelligent, thick-skinned, and as important to this country as their husbands. From Jackie Kennedy to Betty Ford to Michelle Obama, this book reviews their achievements and struggles, and paints a powerful picture of female political leadership.

To buy: $21, amazon.com.

Based on the blog of the same name, this book is perfect for a fashionable mom. Filled with photos and stories of stylish women from the past several decades, it will take her on a trip down memory lane. All of the stories are grouped by theme—from wedding fashion to a mother’s “rebellious” choices—along with anecdotes from daughters (and sons!) who watched their mothers’ style evolve.

To buy: $5, amazon.com.

This book of photographs follows three ballerinas-turned-mothers over the course of 14 years. All three decided to have children in the midst of their already physically taxing careers, and award-winning photographer Lucy Gray captures a unique work-life balance as they parent behind the curtain and perform onstage. If your mother is into classical ballet or appreciates photography, she’ll love these stunning, intimate black-and-white photos.

To buy: $23, amazon.com.

Now, she can bake her favorite childhood dessert from scratch. With more than 20 recipes for every taste—from lavender-blueberry to espresso chip—she’ll want to give each old-school cake a try. The cookbook also lists the essential tools she’ll need, so if you notice one that’s missing from her kitchen, buy it to complete the gift.

To buy: $13, amazon.com.

This unconventional cookbook features breakfasts, appetizers, desserts, cocktails and more from your favorite mystery authors and their characters. The book also offers multiple sidebars that link the food to the fiction—like poisons people used to plant in their gardens, and an explainer about how “red herring” went from the plate to the page.

To buy: $10, amazon.com.

This journal makes it easy to keep track of everyday memories, and she can chronicle and compare special experiences, funny family quotes, or random thoughts for years. It’s a fun way to jot down even the simplest daily activities, and turns keeping a diary into a meaningful task for mom, too.

To buy: $14, amazon.com.

Following a horrific tragedy, four generations of women are forced to deal with a long-kept family secret. The wives and daughters of the Leong family are haunted by a Chinese legend that says each person is bound to their beloved with an invisible string, but whenever they make a romantic mistake, that string gathers knots. This knotted string is passed through generations, and ends with Theresa—18 and pregnant—who is burdened with the Leong family secrets. The novel spans years and perspectives—chapters are told by sisters, daughters, and wives—as the women grieve, and eventually rebuild.

To buy: $8, amazon.com.

This book is both beautiful to page through and a thorough instruction manual for beginning photographers. More than 100 contributors from Clickin Moms, the largest female-photographer social network, have included photographs and advice for capturing basic, understated moments in everyday life and beautiful ways to chronicle family in photos. She’ll be inspired to pick up her camera and finally use it—without having to attend an actual photography class.

To buy: $18, amazon.com.

A history-buff mom will want to curl up with this recently-released history of Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s legacy for hours every night. It discusses Ginsburg’s career as a lawyer, professor, appellate judge, and justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, focusing on her most influential cases. Many leaders from academic and political fields contribute to create a thorough picture of her impressive career.

To buy: $26, amazon.com.

This collection of stories was born from a live event asking women to share their stories about motherhood—now the show happens in more than 20 cities across America. This frank, funny, and touching anthology puts many of those stories down on paper, and discusses the complex and diverse array of parenting experiences, from step-motherhood to infertility, and everything in between.

To buy: $9, amazon.com.

For the mom who loves travel, and specifically has a soft spot for Paris, this illustrated coffee table book highlights the city’s most memorable tourist destinations and charming streets with 85 full-color illustrations and interpretations of city life. Even if she isn’t an artist herself, she’ll appreciate this unique look at the City of Light.

To buy: $14, amazon.com.

She doesn’t have to be a pro baker and decorator to make a batch of cookies, but she can be inspired to go beyond chocolate chip. This book contains almost 300 pages of unexpected cookie concoctions (with beautiful photographs) and expert baking secrets, as well as the pantry ingredients she’ll need to have in her kitchen at all times so that she can make a batch whenever she wants.

To buy: $16, amazon.com.

Coloring books are no longer just for kids—they can be a creative way for adults to relax and unwind, as well. While this book has childlike elements—like hidden objects for the artist to find—its intricate scenes and high-quality paper to prevent bleeding make it the perfect de-stressing activity for grown-ups—almost therapeutic.

To buy: $11, amazon.com.

This beautiful book offers up inventive tips for incorporating elements of the outdoors into entertaining and home décor. It’s divided by outdoor spaces—including sections on Flower Gardens, Beaches, and Vegetable Patches—with specific projects that help bring the outside in through vases, mantel décor, wreaths, and more.

To buy: $12, amazon.com.