It’s two days ’til Mother’s Day, so what better time to have a special Perfect Picture Book Friday in recognition of the moms, step-moms, grandmothers, and maternal figures of all kinds – whether they gave birth to us, stepped into mom-hood, chose us, or were chosen – who have been here for us and helped us become ourselves!

Today I have not one, but FOUR fabulous up-and-coming titles that were all inspired by moms. (Actually, technically, 3 are due out in July. The 4th, OUR WORLD: ARGENTINA, is already available.) In order to keep the post manageable, I’m going to change up the format a little by sharing the book covers and authors and what inspired the books first – what makes them great choices for celebrating mothers and Mother’s Day – and then all the usual PPBF details down below. That way you can be sure to see all the books (and pre-order if you’d like, and share on social media with folks you think would enjoy them!) but the links to resources and all the rest will still be available below.

These generous authors are also offering a giveaway to one lucky person: a bundle that includes one each of each of their books (U.S. addresses only please) CAMOUFLAGE MOM, HOW TO EAT A MANGO, SONIA AND THE SUPER-DUPER DISASTER, and OUR WORLD: ARGENTINA. Just leave a comment on today’s post by Thursday May 16th at 3 PM to qualify! And if you’re feeling nice and care the share on social media, the authors would be most grateful for your support!

So let’s have a look at these 4 wonderful new books!

How is your book inspired by a mother figure or motherhood? (from the author) This book is the true story of when my mother went to boot camp. When I was very young, I saw my mother every day. She would bake, ride bikes, and do projects with me. After she went to boot camp, I learned that motherhood can look a lot of different ways, and each way can be uniquely inspiring.

How is your book inspired by a mother figure or motherhood? (from the author) My inspiration for How to Eat a Mango was my abuelita. I remember her, sitting in the backyard of our house, completely immersed in the experience of eating a mango. Every time she offered me one, I would refuse, but I also remember watching her and wishing I liked them as much as she did. In Venezuela, the matriarchal presence is crucial. Mothers and grandmothers are the center of the home. My Abuelita lived with us. She had a strong character and was always bustling around the house. Abuelita wasn’t as sweet as Carmencita’s grandmother, the protagonist of my book. Still, every time she ate a mango, it was like watching a poem in motion: her delight, eyes closed enjoying every bite, hands bathed in pulp, her fingers and teeth opening the mango skin. I love that memory!

How is your book inspired by a mother figure or motherhood? (from the author) The idea for this book was inspired by my daughter’s struggle to cut a bagel with a plastic knife, which resulted in a big mess and meltdown. Eventually, I realized that it was also about my own struggles with ADHD, anxiety, and perfectionism, and my journey toward learning to manage my anxiety, accept the messy chaos that comes with raising young children, and even find the humor in that chaos… sometimes. 😉

How is your book inspired by a mother figure or motherhood? (from the author) This board book shows a day in the life of a two mom family with their toddler in the city of Buenos Aires, Argentina. The love and affection that mothers and children share are displayed throughout as their adventure filled day in the colorful city transpires.

Title: Camouflage Mom
Written By: Sarah Hovorka
Illustrated By: Elif Balta Parks
Publisher: Cardinal Rule Press (July 1, 2024), fiction
Suitable For Ages: 4-10
Themes/Topics: connecting with others, separation, family, military, girl power

Opening: “The soldiers march by like links in a chain,
a blur of green and black, green and black.
Stomp. Stomp. Stomp.”

Brief Synopsis: [from the publisher] Sarah is happy to finally see her mom after two months of boot camp but she feels a distance between them that’s more than the physical space that separates them. Is that her mom who stares straight ahead in a line of soldiers when Sarah calls out for her? Is that her mom who stomp stomp stomps in big, heavy boots and hides in camouflage clothing? Using the analogy of links in a chain, Camouflage Mom is the story about how Sarah reconnected with her mom after her mom joined the military.

Links To Resources: Discussion questions and activities for coping with separation are included in the book. Check out the book trailer and download coloring pages at https://cardinalrulepress.com/products/camouflage-mom?variant=42949252710584 or https://www.sarahhovorka.com/camouflage-mom.html. More resources coming soon.

Sarah Hovorka is the author of picture books, novels, and short stories for children. In addition to writing, Sarah works in the public sector and spends her free time reading, homeschooling, and playing video and board games with her husband and three sons in California. You can find out more about her, her books, and follow her blog at www.SarahHovorka.com or connect with her on:

X (formerly Twitter) https://twitter.com/HovorkaSarah
IG https://www.instagram.com/authorsarahhovorka/
FB https://www.facebook.com/SarahHovorkaAuthor/
BlueSky https://bsky.app/profile/sarahhovorka.bsky.social

Title: How to Eat a Mango
Written By: Paola Santos
Illustrated By: Juliana Perdomo
Publisher: Neal Porter Books / Holiday House (Jul 16, 2024)
Suitable For Ages: 4-8
Themes/Topics: Intergenerational story, nature-related, culture, family, senses, likes and dislikes.

Opening: “Today, Abuelita makes me help pick mangoes from her tree.
I have to toss away all the rotten mangoes while she piles the ripe ones high and hums with delight.
She takes a bite and offers me one…
“Guácala. I don’t like eating mangoes!” I say, stepping away.”

Brief Synopsis: [from the publisher] Carmencita doesn’t want to help Abuelita pick mangoes; she doesn’t even like them! They’re messy, they get stuck in her teeth, and it’s a chore to throw out the rotten ones.

But Abuelita adores mangoes, and patiently, she teaches Carmencita the right way to eat them. Together, they listen to the tree’s leaves, feel its branches and roots above and below, and smell and feel the sweet, smooth fruits. Each step is a meditation on everything Mamá Earth has given, and in the Earth’s love, Carmencita feels the love of her Mami, her Papi, her little brother Carlitos, and of course, Abuelita.

When they finally bite in, the juice running down their arms, Carmencita understands. The mangoes are more than just mangoes… and she’s ready for another!

Links To Resources: None yet.

Paola Santos is a children’s book author born and raised in Venezuela. After moving to Canada, she found the courage to share the words and stories that had long been enclosed in her imagination. Her stories are now woven with her culture, experience in a new country, hope, happiness, and diversity. Paola holds a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in Literature and Children’s Literature and Reading Promotion. Her debut picture book, How to Eat a Mango (Holiday House), illustrated by Juliana Perdomo, will be released in summer, 2024. You can find out more about her, and her books at www.paolasantos.com or connect with her on:

X (formerly Twitter) https://twitter.com/pgsantosb
IG https://www.instagram.com/pgsantosb/
BlueSky https://bsky.app/profile/pgsantosb.bsky.social

Title: Sonia and the Super-Duper Disaster
Written By: Rachel Funez
Illustrated By: Kelly Kennedy
Publisher: Free Spirit Publishing (July 23, 2024), fiction
Suitable For Ages: 4-9
Themes/Topics: superheroes, tools for managing ADHD and anxiety, letting go of perfectionism, cooking, messes

Opening: “Happy birthday, Mom!” Sam shouts. Mom scoops him up.
“My hero!” she says. My heart THUMP-THUMPS. Oh no! I forgot Mom’s birthday! I want to be her hero too!  I need a super-duper plan to fix this—and fast.

Brief Synopsis: [from the publisher] When Sonia forgets Mom’s birthday, she’s determined to whip up a super surprise and become Mom’s hero. But her ADHD foils her best-laid plans, and her anxiety multiplies as the chaos grows. Sonia has to use all her coping skills to find a new recipe for success and become her own superhero.

Celebrating the individual strengths and special qualities of neurodivergent children, Sonia helps children with ADHD and anxiety recognize how their bodies feel when they become anxious and gives them tools to calm down with her worry-fighting gadgets. Activate Breath Blasters! Stellar Self-Talk! Senses Scanner!

Links To Resources: A section at the back of the book includes more information on Sonia’s worry-fighting gadgets for kids and tips and reminders for caring adults. More resources coming soon at http://www.rachelfunez.com.

Rachel Funez was born in the United States, spent most of her childhood living in Latin America, and is now an attorney raising multicultural children in Peru. A neurodivergent creator with ADHD and Anxiety, Rachel wishes she could hug every kid who is struggling with overwhelming feelings. But she will settle for creating stories that celebrate children with special brains and help them cope with their big emotions in productive ways. When Rachel isn’t writing or working, she enjoys walking her bearded collie, playing board games with her family, dancing like nobody’s watching, and cuddling up on rainy afternoons with a hot beverage and a good book. You can learn more about Rachel by checking out her website, www.rachelfunez.com, or connect with her on:

X (formerly Twitter) https://twitter.com/rachel_funez
IG https://www.instagram.com/rachel_funez/
FB https://m.facebook.com/profile.php/?id=20205015
BlueSky https://bsky.app/profile/rachelfunez.bsky.social

Title: Our World: Argentina
Written By: Aixa Pérez-Prado
Illustrated By: Mariana Ruiz Johnson
Publisher: Barefoot Books, 2023
Suitable For Ages: 0-5
Themes/Topics: culture, language, bilingualism, global learning, diverse families

Opening:
Buen dia Chiche!
Time for leche, warm and sweet.
Medialunas are a treat.

Brief Synopsis: The Our World series draws on the lived experiences of the authors and illustrators from each country to create stories that immerse readers in the daily life in each country. With text and artwork developed specifically for babies and toddlers, this series is a just-right introduction to global learning.

Links To Resources: Coming soon

Aixa Pérez-Prado is a storyteller and university professor from Argentina who writes and illustrates books that explore identity, belonging and bilingualism with heart and humor. Aixa writes and translates in Spanish, English and Portuguese. She is the author and illustrator of CITY FEET (Reycraft, 2023) and MERCEDES SOSA: VOICE OF THE PEOPLE (Lee & Low, 2024).

Website: https://www.aixaperezprado.com/
X: @professoraixa
BlueSky: professoraixa.bsky.social
Insta: @aixasdoodlesandbooks
TikTok: @aixasdoodlesandbooks
Facebook: @aixasdoodlesandbooks

I know that was a long post with a LOT of information in it! But I hope you enjoyed the glimpse of these 4 wonderful new books, all inspired by experiences with a maternal figure and all celebrating the people who fill this role in our lives.

I hope you’ll all share them on social media, look for them in your local indies when they release, request them from your local libraries, and share them with your children and in your classrooms!

Remember, one lucky person will win the giveaway: a bundle that includes one of each of these four books (U.S. addresses only please) CAMOUFLAGE MOM, HOW TO EAT A MANGO, SONIA AND THE SUPER-DUPER DISASTER, and OUR WORLD: ARGENTINA. Just leave a comment on today’s post by Thursday May 16th at 3 PM to qualify!

For the complete list of books with resources, please visit Perfect Picture Books.

PPBF folks, please add your titles and post-specific blog links (and any other info you feel like filling out 😊) to the form below so we can all come see what fabulous picture books you’ve chosen to share this week!

Have a great weekend, everyone! And Happy Mother’s Day!!! 😊 🌸🌹🌼🌷🌺💐