My Mum worked in libraries up until retirement - public libraries, school libraries, and learning resource centres. As such, my sisters and I had library cards practically from birth, and we're a family of readers and lifelong learners.

Books are one of my favourite things to give my mum as a present. As a full time carer, she doesn't currently have any free time for reading, so it's a gift I've leaned away from lately.

So I've decided to compile a list of some of my favourite books to gift, many of which I've previously given my own mum as gifts - this list is perfect if you're looking for options that are tried and tested by a real-life mother!

 

Octopus Just to Say Card

 

How to Choose the Right Book for your Mum

Whether your mum reads voraciously or not, if you're considering getting a book as a gift for her, it's worth considering some of the following points first:

Time

How much time does she have for reading? Will she have the time to read a book from start to finish, or would she prefer a book she can dip into in short bursts?

Hobbies

What does she enjoy as hobbies outside of reading? Does she like gardening or cooking, could you get her a cookbook or an outdoorsy nature non-fiction book?

Films and Podcasts

What sort of movies does she watch, and what sort of podcasts does she listen to? If she watches zombie apocolypse films, there's a good chance she might enjoy reading books in the same genre!

What has she already read?

If she has a Goodreads or Storygraph account, you could check to see if she has any of the books you're considering on her "Read" lists. Though some folk enjoy re-reading books, it's not everyone's cup of tea, so you might find it less risky to get her a book she hasn't read before.

 

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Book Lists for a Variety of Mums

I've categorised the books below for some quick and easy decisions to find your mum a book she'll love.

And for the mums who are less keen on reading, there's plenty of non-fiction and coffee table books, and even some colouring books and puzzle books!

 

For a Mum who doesn't have much time

1. The Joy of Small Things by Hannah Jane Parkinson
2. The Boy, The Mole, The Fox, and the Horse by Charlie Mackesy
3. The Quick Roasting Tin by Rukmini Iyer
4. Small Victories by Johanna Basford
5. How to Keep House while Drowning: A gentle approach to cleaning and organising by KC Davis
6. This is Going to Hurt by Adam Kay

 

 

 

For an Arty-Farty Creative Mum

1. Imagine a Forest: Designs and Inspirations for Enchanting Folk Art by Dinara Mirtalipova
2. Get Started with Gouache by Emma Block
3. Modern Calligraphy: A Step-by-Step Guide to Mastering the Art of Creativity by Lucy Edmonds
4. Passport to Painting: How to Paint Retro-Style Travel Poster Art by Susie West

 

 

For a Foodie Mum

1. Battle Royal by Lucy Parker
2. Delicious Gluten Free Meals: 100 easy every day recipes for lunch and dinner by Sarah Howells
   

 

 

For an Outdoorsy Mum

1. Our Garden Birds: a stunning illustrated guide to the birdlife of the British Isles by Matt Sewell
2. The Secret Life of Fungi: Discoveries from a Hidden World by Aliya Whiteley
3. RSPB Pocket Guide to British Birds

 

 

 

For a Beach-loving Mum

1. Lost Ocean: An Inky Adventure and Colouring Book by Johanna Basford
2. Beachcomber's Companion: An Illustrated Guide to Collecting and Identifying Beach Treasures by Anna Burgard and Jillian Dittner
3. RSPB Handbook of the Seashore by Maya Plass

 

 

For a Sciencey Mum who is Out of This World

1. Goldilocks by Laura Lam
2. The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet by Becky Chambers

 

 

For a Mum who loves all things Zombies, Murder, and Horror

1. Murdle: Solve 100 Devilishly Devious Murder Mystery Logic Puzzles by G. T. Karber
2. Zone One by Colson Whitehead
3. Hex by Thomas Olde Heuvelt
4. My Lovely Wife by Samantha Downing
5. The Three by Sarah Lotz
6. The Girl with All The Gifts by M.R. Carey
7. The Fireman by Joe Hill
8. The Last by Hanna Jameson
9. Hollow Kingdom by Kira Jane Buxton
10. The Silence by Tim Lebbon

 

 

Don't forget to get your mum a greeting card to accompany her gift! You can get a variety of greeting cards and gift tags in our online shop here!

 

I've added links to the books on Bookshop.org and Amazon. When you buy books from these links, I may earn a commission from Amazon or from Bookshop.org, at no additional cost to you.

 

If you've found this helpful for choosing a book for your mum (or yourself!), please consider buying the books through my Bookshop.org affiliate links or shopfront, buying a Looksee card, or signing up to Looksee emails.

 

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• How to Celebrate Mother’s Day
• What to Write in a Mother’s Day Card