Mother’s Day (Sunday 12 May) is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate all mothers, grandmothers, aunts, bonus mums, caregivers, chosen families, and special people in a child’s life, promoting quality family time and celebrations of caregiving bonds. Story Box Library has recommended titles to share with children, including stories featuring rainbow families, incredible family bonds and families with different mothers. You can find all stories below via the ‘Stories for Mothers Day’ playlist in your Story Box Library account, or explore more stories in our Family Life series.

Download our printable Shelf Talker and promotional tile, to promote Mother’s Day stories at your public library or school.

Rainbow families and those with different mothers

  • Who’s Your Real Mum: A beautiful story that celebrates nontraditional families and captures exactly what lies at the heart of family life — love.
  • Family Forest: Half sisters, step-parents and big brothers are all part of the mix. Storyteller Ali McGregor shares with us Kim Kane's delightful story which features a young boy describing his family in all its richness.
  • Brothers From A Different Mother: Inspired by a trip to the zoo and a new child arriving at his daughter's school, this is an important story that emphasises how children focus more on similarities than differences.
  • Come Over to My House: A delightful picture book that explores the home lives of children and parents who are Deaf or disabled.

Stories about family bonds

  • I Just Couldn’t Wait To Meet You: From much-loved actor, radio host and author Kate Ritchie, and written as a tribute to bringing new life into the world, this gorgeous story shares all the joy, excitement, wonder and anticipation many expectant parents feel. 
  • Under The Love Umbrella: A gentle, rhyming story that is a lovely reminder to children that love is ever-present, even if you may be physically separated from those who love you. 
  • A Really Super Hero: Author-illustrator Charlotte Lance adored dressing up when she was young and gets to enjoy it a second time with her own children today.
  • Family Hugs: Warm, funny and full of love this story feels like a family hug. From first-time collaborators Michael Wagner and Adam Carruthers comes a heartfelt collection of rhymes that celebrate the wonder and joy of family bonds. 
  • My Mum Says The Strangest Things: “When Mum's busy she says she's run off her feet. When I dawdle, Mum tells me to shake a leg. When I say, "I'm coming," Mum says, "So is Christmas." My mum says the STRANGEST things.”
  • Baby Business: Tells the story of a Dharug baby smoking ceremony that welcomes baby to country. The smoke is a blessing – it will protect the baby and remind them that they belong.
  • Nice & Slow: An antidote to the busyness that dominates our everyday lives and an ode to the joy and peace of quality time with loved ones.
  • Amma's Sari: A powerful reflection on connection with family, the acceptance of difference, and the celebration of cultural heritage.

Stories about grandmothers

  • My Nanna Is A Ninja: fun, poetic picture book that portrays the many different guises, faces, and personalities grandmas can have.
  • Grandma Z: When Grandma Z roars into town on her motorcycle, Albert is swept up in a very extraordinary adventure.
  • Sarah’s Two Nativities: “Sarah loves her two grandmas – Grandmother Azar and Grandmother Maria. Grandmother Azar tells Sarah stories from the Holy Koran, while Grandmother Maria tells her stories from the Bible. At Christmas time, Sarah snuggles in each of her grandmothers' laps and listens to two nativity stories about the birth of baby Jesus. They are the same in some ways, and different in others ... but both can be Sarah's favourite.”
  • Nannie Loves: Nannie Loves is a delightfully warm and gentle story centred around a family's visit to their grandmother's farm, from author/illustrator Kylie Dunstan.
  • Grandma’s Treasured Shoes: A story for young children about a grandmother's journey as a little girl from Vietnam to Australia, Grandma's Treasured Shoes is a refugee story told through engaging illustrations and a gentle, rhythmic story.
  • In Your Dreams: Told poignantly by Ellen van Neerven, a writer of Mununjali Yugambeh and Dutch heritage, In Your Dreams is about young Susie, who with Gran’s help, embarks on a mission to interpret a series of puzzling dreams, in order to understand the answer to her question.
  • With Nan: Simon takes a walk through the bush with his Nan and along the way finds out that things are not always what they seem.