Books that celebrate Moms (perfect reads for Mother's Day!)

 

If Mom Had Three Arms By Karen Kaufman Orloff

Suitable for ages   3 ~ 7

"I only have two arms!" Every mother has said it sometime, and every kid has heard it. But a young boy wonders: what would happen if Mom really had "more . . . many more?" 

If Mommy had many arms, what could she do? Just imagine! She'd be Supermom, with three arms juggling, or four-armed Mom at a crosswalk, making cars stop and go. And why raise just one hand in class when you can raise . . . FIVE? As kids count along right up to 20 they'll come up with some great ideas of their own. But best of all, they will remember that Mom only needs her two real arms for hugging.

I Love it When You Smile By Sam McBratney

Suitable for ages 5 ~ 8

When Little Roo wakes up, he just feels grumpy. His mother tries everything she can to make him feel better, but nothing she does makes any difference. So how will a deep, wide, and muddy-at-the-bottom hole make Little Roo smile? From the bestselling author of Guess How Much I Love You comes a story that will guarantee a smile and a laugh from even the grumpiest reader.

I Love You the Purplest By Barbara M. Joosse


Suitable for ages 5 & up

This warm story of a mother's undying love for her two sons helps budding readers understand the complexities of sibling rivalry and the depth of a parent's love for their children.  
Brothers Max and Julian each want to hold a special place in their mother's heart. During an evening fishing trip, the two boys vie for their mother's affection and ask her which one she thinks is the best at digging for worms, rowing the boat, and catching fish. Later, at the end of the day, as mother tucks them into bed, Max and Julian want to know which boy their mother loves best.
 
The mother's gentle and wise answers to her sons' questions reflect the boundless measure of a mother's love and her appreciation of her sons' unique personalities. The moving text, supported by soft watercolor illustrations, reassures Max and Julian that although Mama loves them differently, she loves them both very much.

Me and My Mom! By Alison Ritchie

Suitable for ages 2 ~ 7

 A simple book that celebrates the very special relationship between a mother & child. Beautiful illustrations capture the love that Little Bear & his mother feel for one another.

Wondering what to read after  Harry?

How many of these terrific adventures can you check off your reading list?

The Invention of Hugo Cabret By: Brian Selznick

Orphan, clock keeper, thief: Hugo lives in the walls of a busy Paris train station, where his survival depends on secrets and anonymity.

Inkheart By: Cornelia Funke

    One cruel night, Meggie's father reads aloud from a book called "Inkheart," and an evil ruler escapes the boundaries of fiction and lands in their living room. Suddenly, Meggie is smack in the middle of the kind of adventure she has only read about in books.

  

The Thief Lord By:  Cornelia Funke

On the run from their cruel aunt and uncle, Prosper and Bo decide to hide out in Venice. With a detective sent by their family close on their heels, they are happily taken in by the mysterious "Thief Lord" and his gang of street children. The boys discover that nothing is quite as it seems when they take part in a special mission with magical consequences.

Looking for something good to read?

     This selection of books would be suitable for young adults, grade 7 and up.  Please post your comments if you have read any of them, I'd love to hear your thoughts.

    

The Maze Runner By: James Dashner    c.2010,   400p.

Sixteen-year- old Thomas wakes up with no memory other than his first name in the middle of a maze and realizes he must work with the community in which he finds himself if he is to survive and escape.

  
Gone By:  Michael Grant   c.2008,  576p.

   In the blink of an eye everyone but the young disappears. Not a single adult remains. There are no parents, no teachers, no police officers or doctors.  It is a terrifying new world. Sides are being chosen and war is imminent.

   
The Hunger Games By: Suzanne Collins  c.2010,  384p.

Could you survive on your own, in the wild, with everyone out to make sure you don’t live to see the morning? Sixteen-year- old Katniss Everdeen has been close to dead before, and survival for her is second nature.  If she is to win the Hunger Games though, she will have to start making choices that will weigh survival against humanity and life against love.

   
 Found By: Margaret Peterson Haddix    c.2009,  336p.

Jonah, Chip and Katherine are plunged into a mystery that involves the FBI, a smuggling operation, a mysterious airplane that appears out of nowhere, and people who seem to appear and disappear at will.  The trio soon discover that they are caught up in a battle between two opposing forces that want very different things.

  
Tomorrow, When the War Began By: John Marsden  c.2006, 304p.                                                                                                                

A group of Australian teens return from a camping trip in the wilderness to discover that their country has been invaded by a foreign country.  They must hide to stay alive and work together against their enemy.  The teens must find courage, strength and wisdom to outwit their foe.

 
The Trap By: John Smelcer  c.2007,  176p.

Seventeen- year- old Johnny must race against the dropping temperature and the harsh Alaskan wilderness to save his grandfather. While on his quest he learns that he must decide whether to trust his grandfather or his own instincts.  Johnny soon learns that the most dangerous traps need not be made of steel.

  
Peak By: Roland Smith  c.2008, 256p.

 Peak is not only the name of this book it is also the name of the story’s main character as well as his ultimate destination.  Peak’s goal is to become the youngest person ever to scale Mount Everest. To do so he must overcome rough terrain,  icy crevasses, howling winds, bitter cold and many other obstacles that get between Peak and the 29,028 foot summit of Mount Everest.   


  
The Winter Road By: Terry Hokenson  c.2006, 175p.

    Willa is feeling ignored and estranged from her parents after the death of her brother so she decides to make a solo flight without telling them in an attempt to put herself back on their radar.  Her plan takes a deadly turn when mechanical failure brings down her plane in the wilderness of Northern Ontario.  Willa finds herself in a life or death struggle and must face the dangers of starvation and bitter cold winter temperatures in order to survive.