Have you ever noticed that children’s books rarely show working moms? A very strange phenomenon, considering that 74% of moms with children under 18 are part of the United States workforce. Furthermore, 40.5% of US moms are the sole or primary wage earner for their family, in addition to the unpaid physical and emotional labor of caring for their children. Working moms deserve as much praise as they can get, so we’ve collected seven books that do just that: celebrate working moms for all that they do in caring for their families.
In My Heart by Mackenzie Porter, Illustrated by Jenny Løvlie
Leaving little ones to head to work can be tough on any caregiver, especially when those kiddos are anxious about the separation. In this gentle and supremely sweet story, a child asks their mother what she will be doing at her job all day while the child misses her. The mom reassuringly answers, walking both the child and reader through their day commuting and working in an office: she’ll be thinking about her little one. Whether listening to the radio and imagining the child’s voice singing along, wondering about the new things they’re learning at school, or even taking a peek at baby pictures during a meeting, Mom promises that in the time they’re apart, her child is never too far from her thoughts…or her heart.
Mama’s Work Shoes by Caron Levis, Illustrated by Vanessa Brantley-Newton
Little Perry can measure the fun that she and her mother have by the sounds of her various shoes. The swish-swush slippers are perfect for cuddling on the couch with a storybook, zip-zup sneakers are ideal for running through the park, and pat-put boots make for lovely puddle-stomping attire. So when Perry hears a new shoe sound — the click-clack of heels — she wonders where these shoes will take them. Unfortunately, she’s crushed to learn that these are her mom’s work shoes, and they will be taking her to her job while Perry stays with Nan during the day. Caregivers will appreciate the realism of Perry’s very toddler-accurate reactions, including tears and tantrums, as well as the final message: while the click-clacks may take Mom away from Perry for short periods of time, they also signal her happy return to Perry at the end of the day.
Mommy Goes to Work by Jossy Lee, Illustrated by Nila Aye
Approaching the life of working moms from a slightly more positive direction, this adorable board book compares the day of a mother working in an office with her child’s day at school. The kiddo narrates, likening the daily activities of a young student to the mom’s: as the child works on puzzles, Mom works on projects. As the Mom does a presentation in a meeting, the child talks about space for show and tell. At the end of the day, the two reconnect. While another great board book for helping children transition as their parent returns to work, moms may especially appreciate this one for how it frames Mom’s job as an extremely fulfilling part of her life; she loves her work as much as the child loves school, and both love their time spent together.
Help Mom Work from Home! by Diana Murray, Illustrated by Cori Doerrfeld
These days, work and home can be the same place, and the irrepressible young narrator of our tale is keen to “help” Mom go about her busy day. While Mom slogs through Zoom meetings, packing and shipping, writing emails, and taking calls, her kiddo is sure to provide hairstyling, delicious (Play-Doh) snacks, office design, and organizational expertise. And when the day’s work is done, the family settles in for a relaxing and well-earned takeout meal. Working from home may not always go smoothly, but there’s never a dull moment with Mom’s very special helper around. While young readers will laugh at the antics of the child narrator, parents will feel a special kinship with Mom as she tries to balance the stress of work and childcare, especially when their “help” creates further work for her. Still, the final message is sound: as long as everyone is together and happy at the end of the day, things will work out.
Camouflage Mom: A Story About Staying Connected by Sarah Hovorka, Illustrated by Elif Balta Parks
Sometimes, jobs can take moms away for far longer than a day or two. Sarah’s mom serves in the US Army, meaning that Sarah doesn’t always get to see her. She misses her when they’re apart, and while she’s proud of her mom, she wonders how she’ll get by without seeing her mom every day. Mom assures her that they are forever tied together like links in a chain, but Sarah can’t see the links. Based on the author’s own experiences as a child, this deeply personal story does an incredible job of capturing life as the child of a soldier, validating the feelings of separation and sadness while offering hope and the assurance that children can still stay connected to their moms, even when circumstances keep them apart. It’s also greatly appreciated for depicting a mother as a working servicemember, as most books of this type only show fathers in that role.
When Mommy Goes to Work by Paul Schofield, Illustrated by Anna Terreros-Martin
Another precious board book look at the day of a working mom juxtaposed with her child’s, this time mom takes narrator duties as her child spends the day with elderly relatives. Mom walks through her daily routines as a medical provider — driving her ambulance, treating patients, and helping people — as the kiddo performs similar activities with Nan and Grandad, all the while offering a running commentary that while her work is important to her and their community, she’s spent the whole day looking forward to seeing her little one again. While American audiences may not recognize Mom’s uniform or the EMS colors (the book was adapted from the British original), context clues are ample enough that this becomes an awesome title for families with Moms working in medicine.
Great Job, Mom! by Holman Wang
The mom at the center of this book is a carpenter by trade — but the truth is, she holds many jobs! She’s a general, marching her troops to their rooms at bedtime; she’s an archaeologist, looking for buried treasures (lost socks); she’s a curator, providing a fine appreciation for the arts on the kitchen fridge. Wang’s text is simple yet humorous, paired perfectly with his incredible handmade, needle-felted characters and miniature sets and props. Especially appreciated is the book’s commitment to depicting Mom’s jobs — both literal and figurative — as not being tied to gender norms, something that is carried into the companion title Great Job, Dad! As a spirited and visually engaging depiction of the many hats that working moms wear, this one is an absolute can’t-miss.
We hope that you and your little readers enjoy these books and that they encourage you to celebrate the working moms in your lives — they deserve it! Happy reading!
For more of our favorite kids’ books that celebrate fictional moms, check out our article on Iconic Mothers From Great Children’s Books.
For all of our recommendations for mini bookworms, check out our Bookshop bookshelf.
