Here are 100 books that Help Mom Work from Home! fans have personally recommended if you like Help Mom Work from Home!. Shepherd is a community of 12,000+ authors and super readers sharing their favorite books with the world.

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Book cover of You Be Mommy

Charlotte Offsay Author Of A Grandma's Magic

From my list on picture books to gift for Mother's Day.

Why am I passionate about this?

I'm a picture book author living in Los Angeles with my husband and two children. I love seeing the world through my children’s eyes and began writing stories for and inspired by them after they were born. Watching their relationships flourish with their grandparents and the grown-ups in their lives inspired me to write books that celebrate family and foster connection. My grandmas both live overseas and I treasure the time I spend with them. Just like my own children, the simplest moments together are the ones I hold onto and carry with me the most. I love books that celebrate these magical relationships and hope these books encourage readers to celebrate their own relationships.  

Charlotte's book list on picture books to gift for Mother's Day

Charlotte Offsay Why Charlotte loves this book

What parent hasn’t felt tired at the end of a long day and wished someone else could be in charge? I am a mom of two adorably exhausting children and know I have. In You Be Mommy, the mom turns the parent-child relationship on its head and gives the child a turn at being mommy. The child reads mom a story, checks for monsters under the bed, and gives her a goodnight kiss. This sweet rhyming read-aloud is filled with humor and heart. It celebrates all that a mother does for her child and the love they share.

By Karla Clark , Zoe Persico (illustrator) ,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked You Be Mommy as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

A tired mommy lets her daughter have a turn being the parent at bedtime in You Be Mommy, a humorously charming debut picture book from writer Karla Clark and illustrator Zoe Persico.

Mommy's too tired to be Mommy tonight.
Can you be Mommy and hold me tight?

In this clever, rhyming picture book, a mother tells her child that she's simply too tired to be Mommy tonight and asks her daughter to take over for her.

An utterly relatable theme told with humor and heart provides a story parents and children will delight in reading together at bedtime.


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Book cover of The Time-Jinx Twins

The Time-Jinx Twins by Carol Fisher Saller,

Twelve-year-old identical twins Ellie and Kat accidentally trigger their physicist mom’s unfinished time machine, launching themselves into a high-stakes adventure in 1970 Chicago. If they learn how to join forces and keep time travel out of the wrong hands, they might be able find a way home. Ellie’s gymnastics and…

Book cover of Grandma's Purse

Charlotte Offsay Author Of A Grandma's Magic

From my list on picture books to gift for Mother's Day.

Why am I passionate about this?

I'm a picture book author living in Los Angeles with my husband and two children. I love seeing the world through my children’s eyes and began writing stories for and inspired by them after they were born. Watching their relationships flourish with their grandparents and the grown-ups in their lives inspired me to write books that celebrate family and foster connection. My grandmas both live overseas and I treasure the time I spend with them. Just like my own children, the simplest moments together are the ones I hold onto and carry with me the most. I love books that celebrate these magical relationships and hope these books encourage readers to celebrate their own relationships.  

Charlotte's book list on picture books to gift for Mother's Day

Charlotte Offsay Why Charlotte loves this book

One of my favorite activities as a kid was digging through my grandma’s purse. I used to play with her lipstick and dig for mints; it always amazed me how much she could fit in there! Now with two young kids of my own, I smile every time I catch them doing the same. If you are looking for a way to celebrate Grandma this Mother’s Day, Grandma’s Purse is a great book to gift her. It features Grandma Mimi who brings her purse full of surprises every time she visits. From jewelry to treats, to pictures, her granddaughter never knows what she is going to find! A sweet story of a young girl who wants to be just like the grandma she adores. 

By Vanessa Brantley-Newton ,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Grandma's Purse as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Spend the day with a grandma and granddaughter in this charming picture book about the magic found in their favorite accessory, a perfect gift this Mother's Day!

When Grandma Mimi comes to visit, she always brings warm hugs, sweet treats...and her purse. You never know what she'll have in there--fancy jewelry, tokens from around the world, or something special just for her granddaughter. It might look like a normal bag from the outside, but Mimi and her granddaughter know that it's pure magic!

In this adorable, energetic ode to visits from grandma, beloved picture book creator Vanessa Brantley Newton shows…


Book cover of Tomatoes for Neela

Mikki Hernandez Author Of Cake Mix: Learning to Love All Your Ingredients

From my list on using food to celebrate diverse cultures.

Why am I passionate about this?

Growing up as a mixed kid (Mexican, African, Indigenous, and Eastern European) in a homogenous rural town, I relied on stories to offer a peek into different cultures. My love for storytelling strengthened during my studies at UCLA, leading to a career as an actress and author. In my debut children’s book, food is at the center of my mixed character’s journey because of its inviting, universal nature. I truly believe stories centered on food are a lovely way to introduce children to diverse cultures. I hope you enjoy my picks and feel inspired to share a meal with someone new. 

Mikki's book list on using food to celebrate diverse cultures

Mikki Hernandez Why Mikki loves this book

Tomatoes for Neela is a beautiful book and such a treat to read knowing it’s written by a prominent chef!

I have to admit that I am not one who loves vegetables (I’m a sweet tooth!). However, this story really inspired me to take full advantage of the access I have to fresh produce. I share Neela’s excitement for her favorite day of the week being the day of the green market.

My own neighborhood has the most charming farmer’s market every Thursday and I love walking around, seeing all the colors and varieties of food there. I was definitely encouraged to add more veggies, especially tomatoes, to my tote bag and enjoy having a go-to tomato sauce recipe from the Padma Lakshmi to share with friends for pasta night.

By Padma Lakshmi , Juana Martinez-Neal (illustrator) ,

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked Tomatoes for Neela as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 3, 4, 5, and 6.

What is this book about?

Padma Lakshmi, bestselling author and host of Bravo's Top Chef and Hulu's Taste the Nation, and Caldecott Honor-winning illustrator Juana Martinez-Neal team up in this celebration of food and family.
 
“Some of my fondest memories from childhood are of cooking with the women in my family. It is the foundation for all I have spent my life working on.” –Padma Lakshmi

Neela loves cooking with her amma and writing down the recipes in her notebook. It makes her feel closer to her paati who lives far away in India. On Saturdays, Neela and Amma go to the green market and…


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Book cover of The Time-Jinx Twins

The Time-Jinx Twins by Carol Fisher Saller,

Twelve-year-old identical twins Ellie and Kat accidentally trigger their physicist mom’s unfinished time machine, launching themselves into a high-stakes adventure in 1970 Chicago. If they learn how to join forces and keep time travel out of the wrong hands, they might be able find a way home. Ellie’s gymnastics and…

Book cover of Love, Mama

Charlotte Offsay Author Of A Grandma's Magic

From my list on picture books to gift for Mother's Day.

Why am I passionate about this?

I'm a picture book author living in Los Angeles with my husband and two children. I love seeing the world through my children’s eyes and began writing stories for and inspired by them after they were born. Watching their relationships flourish with their grandparents and the grown-ups in their lives inspired me to write books that celebrate family and foster connection. My grandmas both live overseas and I treasure the time I spend with them. Just like my own children, the simplest moments together are the ones I hold onto and carry with me the most. I love books that celebrate these magical relationships and hope these books encourage readers to celebrate their own relationships.  

Charlotte's book list on picture books to gift for Mother's Day

Charlotte Offsay Why Charlotte loves this book

It can be hard when our loved ones have to travel, but as Love, Mama shows, love stretches across distances when we can’t be right next to one another. Love, Mama features Kipling, a young penguin who is sad when his mother has to travel, he knows that she will come back but can’t help missing her. He tries to replace her with pillow Mama but it just isn’t the same. A heartwarming reminder of how strong a Mother’s love for her child is and the perfect gift for the traveling working mama this Mother’s Day.

By Jeanette Bradley ,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Love, Mama as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

When Mama leaves her young penguin, Kipling, he knows she'll return home soon - yet he still can't help but miss her. After all, Pillow Mama won't read, Picture Mama won't laugh, and Snow Mama is too cold to cuddle. But then Kipling receives a special delivery from Mama, including a note that reads: My love for you stretches across the wide ocean, through day and night, from earth to sky and back again. And Kipling knows that no matter where Mama is, he is loved. Soon, Mama comes home, and Kipling ends the day where he belongs - right…


Book cover of I Love Mom with The Very Hungry Caterpillar

Rashin Kheiriyeh Author Of The Seasons of Parastoo

From my list on the seasons and holding on to hope.

Why am I passionate about this?

I’m Rashin Kheiriyeh, born in Iran to a mother who was an artist. From a young age, I adored picture books and spent hours doodling and crafting stories for my paintings. This early passion for art and storytelling drives me to explore themes of nature, change, and emotional connections in my work. With around 100 children’s books published globally, I draw on personal experiences and cultural heritage to create engaging, meaningful stories. My expertise in illustrating and writing allows me to connect with readers through vivid imagery and heartfelt narratives, making me especially attuned to themes of hope and transformation in literature.

Rashin's book list on the seasons and holding on to hope

Rashin Kheiriyeh Why Rashin loves this book

This is a sweet and simple tribute to the love between a mother and child. The familiar and beloved character of the Very Hungry Caterpillar adds a nostalgic touch, making the book feel warm and comforting. Eric Carle's vibrant illustrations, combined with the heartfelt message, perfectly capture the special bond between mothers and their children.

It’s a book that celebrates the small but meaningful ways in which mothers show their love, making it a perfect gift for Mother’s Day or any occasion that honors moms. The simplicity of the text, paired with Carle’s iconic artwork, creates a timeless and touching story that resonates with readers of all ages.

By Eric Carle (illustrator) ,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked I Love Mom with The Very Hungry Caterpillar as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 3, 4, and 5.

What is this book about?

Celebrate Mom's special day with The Very Hungry Caterpillar in this colorful book featuring Eric Carle's joyful illustrations.

Show Mom just how much she means with this colorful book from the World of Eric Carle. Join The Very Hungry Caterpillar as he honors Mother's Day and celebrates incredible parents everywhere. With joyful illustrations and colorful creatures, this charming keepsake is a great way to show parents, grandparents, soon-to-be mothers, aunts, friends, or whomever you call "Mom" just how much you care.


Book cover of Art

Pam Spremulli Author Of Letter Birds

From my list on for children with whimsical and fun Illustrations.

Why am I passionate about this?

I am a Graphic Illustrator, Muralist, and Educator, serving as an adjunct professor at the Cleveland Institute of Art and I love birds! I was born and raised in the Chautauqua Lake Region of Western, NY and I find myself very much at home with our feathered friends. My passion for color, shape, and nature enables me to draw the viewer's eye to things that otherwise might go unnoticed. Letter Birds was created when my children were 5 and 7 and I would draw while they slept. When they awoke they would find a colorful drawing of a feathered friend along with a new letter to learn. My children continue to be my creative muses - even as teenagers!

Pam's book list on for children with whimsical and fun Illustrations

Pam Spremulli Why Pam loves this book

Anyone who loves kids' art can relate to Art 😉. McDonnell captures the freedom and love of creating from a child's perspective and beyond. A beautiful portrait of the rawness and whimsy that comes from children's artwork – where there are no boundaries. This sweet book brings us back to that simple artistic joy where there are no limits, where we can create as we feel, play, sleep, and create some more!! 

By Patrick McDonnell ,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Art as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

A young artist, Art, is your lively guide into this captivating and dynamic book. ART celebrates art (and Art) with a simple text that's full of life, creations that practically dance off the pages and a surprisng and heartwarming ending. An expression of pure joy.


Book cover of I Don't Know How She Does It

Liz Alterman Author Of Claire Casey's Had Enough

From my list on harried heroines we can’t help but root for.

Why am I passionate about this?

As a writer, wife, and mom, I love reading novels and memoirs about women who are navigating parenting, relationships, and careers simultaneously. My favorites are those that make me laugh out loud while presenting a relatable picture of all this juggling act entails. Smart and witty heroines who approach life with a can-do spirit and the ability to laugh at themselves as the world tosses one curveball after another their way capture my heart every time.

Liz's book list on harried heroines we can’t help but root for

Liz Alterman Why Liz loves this book

Hedge fund manager Kate Reddy is keeping plenty of plates spinning while struggling to maintain her sanity as a mom and make it in “a man’s world.” For some, a day in Kate’s life might be anxiety-inducing (hence the title!), but for those who’ve lived it, it’s maddeningly accurate.

I read this novel before work-life balance became a popular catchphrase, and as much as we may think society has evolved, Kate’s day-to-day is probably still far more relatable than it should be.

By Allison Pearson ,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked I Don't Know How She Does It as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

A victim of time famine, thirty-five-year-old Kate counts seconds like other women count calories. As she runs between appointments, through her head spools the crazy tape-loop of every high-flying mother's life- client reports, bouncy castles, Bob The Builder, transatlantic phone calls, dental appointments, pelvic floor exercises, flights to New York, sex (too knackered), and stress-busting massages she always has to cancel (too busy). Factor in a controlling nanny, a chauvinist Australian boss, a long-suffering husband, two demanding children and an e-mail lover, and you have a woman juggling so many balls that some day soon something's going to hit the…


Book cover of Heavy: An American Memoir

Laura Gaddis Author Of Mosaic

From my list on inspiration to deal with life’s challenges.

Why am I passionate about this?

After the loss of my first baby, I became obsessed with understanding the emotions I was feeling and how to find myself again. I began reading memoirs during this time as a way to connect and find myself. While each story carries its own merits and uniqueness, I found I could take away bits of wisdom from each. How does one figure out who they are when they have lost something so important to themselves? How does one reconcile relationships within their own family? And how does one deal with the mental health toll that inevitably life can take? These questions are my focus when I read and write. 

Laura's book list on inspiration to deal with life’s challenges

Laura Gaddis Why Laura loves this book

I love this book because it took me on a surprise adventure through the life of a black boy (and young man) raised in the South. I met Laymon at a writing workshop a few months prior to this book’s release date, and I heard him read an excerpt from it.

I was immediately hooked on his storytelling ability. The language is so authentic to him and his experiences, and he holds nothing back. I love the vulnerability that saturates each page as I follow him through his addictions and struggles. While his life is so different from mine, the idea of finding one’s identity in society could not be more relatable.

By Kiese Laymon ,

Why should I read it?

5 authors picked Heavy as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

*Named a Best Book of the Year by the New York Times, Publishers Weekly, NPR, Broadly, Buzzfeed (Nonfiction), The Undefeated, Library Journal (Biography/Memoirs), The Washington Post (Nonfiction), Southern Living (Southern), Entertainment Weekly, and The New York Times Critics*

In this powerful, provocative, and universally lauded memoir—winner of the Andrew Carnegie Medal and finalist for the Kirkus Prize—genre-bending essayist and novelist Kiese Laymon “provocatively meditates on his trauma growing up as a black man, and in turn crafts an essential polemic against American moral rot” (Entertainment Weekly).

In Heavy, Laymon writes eloquently and honestly about growing up a hard-headed black son…


Book cover of What My Mother and I Don't Talk About: Fifteen Writers Break the Silence

Rica Keenum Author Of Petals of Rain: A Mother's Memoir

From my list on for daughters with toxic or complicated mothers.

Why am I passionate about this?

Growing up, my mother refused to acknowledge that my stepfather sexually abused me for many years. I was forced to call him “Dad” and I was told to “forgive and forget.” It took me decades to understand that while I could teach my mind to deny my pain and grief, trauma stayed embedded within my heart and shaped my life, relationships, internal beliefs, and decisions. After a triggering event, it ultimately morphed into depression, which I’m now battling in my forties. Having written two memoirs on the impact of trauma, I am only now finding the wisdom and courage to distance myself from my mother and stepfather. The books I’ve recommended have brought me comfort and a sense of relief. 

Rica's book list on for daughters with toxic or complicated mothers

Rica Keenum Why Rica loves this book

This vulnerable collection of essays drew me in with the words, “Our mothers are our first homes, and that’s why we’re always trying to return to them.” As I continued to read, I had the eerie feeling that the author had read my diary (although I don’t actually have a diary), had met my mother, and had lived my life in so many ways. And while this book contains stories from many authors, the single thread of longing for mothers who’ve loved and hurt us ties them together seamlessly. They are beautifully expressed, sometimes heartbreaking, sometimes humorous, but ultimately worthy of savoring. 

By Michele Filgate (editor) ,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked What My Mother and I Don't Talk About as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?


In the early 2000's, as an undergraduate, Michele Filgate started writing an essay about being abused by her stepfather. It took many years for her to realize what she was actually trying to write about: the fracture this caused in her relationship with her mother. When her essay, "What My Mother and I Don't Talk About," was published by Longreads in October of 2017, it went on to become one of the most popular Longreads exclusives of the year and was shared on social media by Anne Lamott, Rebecca Solnit, Lidia Yuknavitch, and other writers, some of whom had their…


Book cover of The Hen Who Dreamed She Could Fly

Carole McDonnell Author Of The Constant Tower

From my list on unplanned or obsessively-planned journeys.

Why am I passionate about this?

I'm a wife, mother, writer—and the mother of a disabled non-verbal thirty-three-year-old man. I'm also Black and a Christian, both of which can be problematic to many readers. I write fantasy and mainstream stories, Christian and non-Christian. Some fantasy readers have certain fears, stereotypes, and expectations of fantasy books written by minorities. Others have those same fears, stereotypes, and expectations of books written by Christian writers. I'm very good at accommodating my readers. For the most part, my readers never feel as if they’re being preached at or lectured. Some aren’t even aware that I'm Black or a Christian, even though my concernsimperialism, injustice, spirituality, ethnicity, disability, and feminismare throughout my stories.

Carole's book list on unplanned or obsessively-planned journeys

Carole McDonnell Why Carole loves this book

The Hen Who Dreamed She Could Fly is a fable, and as with all good fables, you’re going to find yourself commiserating with an animal. Sprout is a hen who is past her childbearing years. There is no rooster around. Well, there’s one. But he’s got a partner. Childlessness is an unplanned journey for some, and the book shows the grief that many people in this situation might deal with. Just as we’re feeling there is absolutely no hope for our infertile, partner-less, hen, she ends up becoming a mother. But now another unplanned journey pops up. Well, decisions and sacrifices have to be made. 

There are so many reasons why I like this book. After my son was born, I was suddenly on an unplanned journey. I didn’t expect my son to be sickly and developmentally delayed and even now I still pray for a miracle for him. The…

By Sun-mi Hwang , Nomoco (illustrator) , Chi-Young Kim (translator)

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The Hen Who Dreamed She Could Fly as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

A TOP TEN INDIE PUBLISHERS' FICTION BESTSELLER FOR 2014

AN INDEPENDENT BOOK OF THE YEAR 2014 PICK

A WATERSTONES BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR 2014 PICK

A BOOKSELLER BOOK OF THE YEAR 2014 PICK

This is the story of a hen named Sprout. No longer content to lay eggs on command only to have them carted off to the market, she glimpses her future every morning through the barn doors, where the other animals roam free, and comes up with a plan to escape into the wild-and to hatch an egg of her own. An anthem for individuality and motherhood,…


Book cover of You Be Mommy
Book cover of Grandma's Purse
Book cover of Tomatoes for Neela

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Interested in work, yoga, and Christmas?

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Christmas 283 books