Picture Books That Make the Sweetest Gifts for New Moms
by Jennifer Garry
While tiny, adorable outfits and plush blankets are always fun to purchase when a loved one has a baby, one of my go-to gifts for baby showers is a book. And let’s face it, when you buy a book for a brand-new mom, the gift is as much for them as it is for the little human they just brought into the world.
These heartwarming picture books grow with the baby while gently validating all of the emotions that come with being a new mom, making them the perfect gift for baby showers, Mother’s Day, or any day.
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Mommy’s Wishes
Buy from:This adorable and heartfelt board book is a love letter from a mother bear to her cub. She hopes for happiness, adventure, and love for her child. The gentle, rhyming text and soft illustrations make this book an excellent snuggle-time read-aloud.
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This Is a Gift for You
Buy from:Celebrate life’s beautiful everyday moments in this companion book to The Wonderful Things You Will Be. The rhyming text and gorgeous illustrations show readers that every day — and every moment — is a gift to be cherished. It’s the perfect baby shower gift that every new parent will love.
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Bluey: Sleepytime
Buy from:This storybook version of the Bluey episode “Sleepytime” beautifully captures both the deep love and sheer exhaustion that is motherhood. On an insterstellar adventure that is Bingo's dream, we see the sisters float around space toward the sun — their mom. As Bingo tries to work up the nerve to sleep alone, she moves away from the sun, but ultimately coming back to its warmth and light.
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I Love You, Little Horse
Buy from:A horse and its foal spend the day smelling flowers, listening to the birds, and wandering the hills. As they use their senses to explore the world around them, the horse reassures its foal that they are loved unconditionally. This sweet board book is perfect for tiny horse lovers.
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Nosotros Means Us
Buy from:Celebrate the unbreakable bond between parent and child in this heartwarming book. Perfect for new mothers, it explores the unwavering nature of love through imaginative scenarios where a mother and child are different animals, always remaining "us."
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Mama Hug
Buy from:Simple, rhyming text and vibrant illustrations make this board book from bestselling novelist Emma Straub a surefire win. A mother and her baby spend the day tickling, hugging, and exploring nature until the sun sets and it’s time for bed. This joyful book will make a welcome addition to any new parent’s bookshelf.
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Just in Case You Want to Fly
Buy from:This beautiful, affirming book is a joy to read. In it, a diverse cast of children head out on adventures, exploring the world around them while their loved ones encourage and support them. The gentle humor and whimsical illustrations add a touch of magic to the everyday.
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Mommy Love
Buy from:The early days of motherhood are challenging, so this book helps guide new mothers through small acts of self-care. Complete with breathing exercises and gratitude practices, Verde encourages mothers to use their senses, enjoy the small moments, and connect with their babies. Designed to be read with a child, this uplifting and healing picture book is the perfect gift for any new mother!
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Love
Buy from:Filled with beautiful illustrations of multicultural characters, this book tackles the subject of love in moving, lyrical prose. It all starts with a brand-new baby: “In the beginning there is light and two wide-eyed figures standing near the foot of your bed, and the sound of their voices is love.” Slow and reassuring, the book goes on to explore the ways that love can be found in joy as well as in darkness, pulling at readers’ heart strings with language that exudes the love each of its characters experience.
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A Thousand Years
Buy from:Singer-songwriter Christina Perri transforms her beloved song A Thousand Years into this tender picture book that captures the timeless bond between mother and child, celebrating their brave journey together and the unending love that grows with each step.
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Hand to Hold
Buy from:There can be such comfort in holding someone’s hand. Based on the lyrics of her beloved lullaby, JJ Heller brings that comfort to life in this heartwarming picture book. I love the beautiful illustrations of this book that showcases the adventures — both big and small — that await a child as they grow, with the comfort of a parent always there to offer love and support.
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To the Moon and Back for You
Buy from:Every new mom is so grateful for their new baby, but when the journey to conceive comes with its own struggles, that gratitude can be overwhelming. This beautiful book shows families on their path to find their miracle babies, and that no matter the challenges, hope will always win.
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Here We Are
Buy from:Packed with layers of wonder for all different ages and stages, Oliver Jeffers’ Here We Are is the book I wish I’d owned as a wide-eyed, nervous new mother. Inspired by the birth of Jeffers' own son, the book is a guide to living on planet Earth — and being a good human while there. A wonderful read to calm the feeling of not knowing where to begin, the book’s message is simple: yes, the Earth is huge and filled with people of all different shapes, colors, sizes, and abilities. But in the end, we’re not that different, and we’re all in it together. It’s a message as comforting to children as it is to new parents.
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The Wonderful Things You Will Be
Buy from:Destined to become a classic baby shower gift, this sweet, rhyming book is filled with the hopes and dreams parents have for their children. Unconditional love and wonder drips from the pages as the author imagines the countless things a new baby can grow to do. With a diverse cast of characters and an emphasis on kindness and acceptance, it’s a beautiful depiction of the love a parent has for their child.
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Bunny Roo, I Love You
Buy from:With charming illustrations that have a classic feel and simple text that’s suited for all ages, this book is sure to become a well-worn favorite. Featuring a cast of momma animals nurturing their babies, we later learn that the baby at the center of the story is a human baby whose mom does everything she can to care for her child. Heartwarming and tender, this story is the perfect first book to read to a baby.
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That’s Me Loving You
Buy from:Touching on the enormity of a parent’s love and reassuring children that they can always find evidence of it, this darling, rhythmic book is perfect for reading during long nights rocking baby to sleep. It will become a quick favorite, and one that moms turn to during life’s big changes — when baby heads off to daycare or preschool or kindergarten — its quiet reassurance soothing for mom and baby alike.
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Love Makes a Family
Buy from:This vibrant book celebrates all different kinds of families and the special thing that makes a family: love. Whether yours includes two moms, two dads, one of each or just one parent, this book revels in the many ways families show their love for each other. Colorful, inclusive, and bursting with love, it’s a great read for every type of family.
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You might also like:
- 8 Baby Shower Books That Won’t Get Returned
- Must-Have Board Books for Baby’s First Library
- Baby Memory Books You’ll Treasure Forever
- Baby’s First Year: What to Read to Them at Every Stage
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in 2019 and updated in 2025.