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Mother’s Day is a special time to celebrate love, appreciation, and family connections. In the UK, this cherished day provides the perfect opportunity for parents and children to spend quality time together. One of the best ways to make lasting memories is through reading. Sharing books, telling stories, and engaging in fun reading activities can create a meaningful and enjoyable experience for the whole family.
Whether you’re looking for book gift ideas, ways to read together as a celebration, or stories that honour the mums and carers in our lives, here are some simple, heartfelt ways to make reading part of your Mother’s Day.
Encouraging reading together
Reading together is a wonderful way to bond with your child while fostering a love of books. Shared reading helps improve vocabulary, comprehension, and communication skills. But beyond the academic benefits, reading with your child also strengthens emotional connections and provides opportunities for meaningful conversations.
- Boosts literacy: Reading aloud introduces children to new words, sentence structures, and storytelling techniques.
- Encourages imagination: Storytelling sparks creativity and helps children develop their own ideas.
- Creates comforting rituals: A daily or weekly reading tradition can become a cherished family moment.
If you want more tips on helping children develop a love of reading, our Helping Children Learn to Read guide has plenty of practical ideas.
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Themed activities for Mother’s Day
Make Mother’s Day even more memorable with creative, book-themed activities. Here are some fun ideas:
Create a Mother’s Day story together
Encourage children to write a short story or draw a picture book about their family. Some prompts to get them started:
- “My favourite memory with Mum is…”
- “If I could take my mum on an adventure, we would go to…”
- “A superhero mum story where she saves the day by…”
This activity gets children thinking about the people they love while practising their writing skills. It’s also a gift that any parent will treasure.
Craft personalised bookmarks
Make reading extra special by crafting unique bookmarks together. Use coloured paper, stickers, and drawings to create personalised keepsakes that can be used for future storytimes.
Design a bookmark
Design a bookmark inspired by a favourite book — add a character, a favourite word, or just go full creative chaos. A five-minute make with a genuinely useful result.
Goal
Build a personal connection to books through a simple, creative make — and give your child something to use every time they sit down to read.
You'll need
- Bookmark Template or Bookmark Template (With Holes)
- Colouring pens or pencils
- A favourite book for inspiration
How to do it
Choose a book your child has enjoyed and talk about what stands out — a favourite character, a funny moment, a word they love. Print a bookmark template and let them design it however they like.
They might draw the character, write the title, decorate it with colours from the cover, or just make something completely unrelated and beautiful. All of these are correct.
If you have the template with holes, thread ribbon or string through the top once it's done. The finished bookmark goes straight into the book — and tends to get used, which is the nicest bit.
Grab our resources
Print our bookmark template or bookmark template with holes to get started — choose the style that suits your child best.
Cook a story-inspired meal
Choose a book that features food and cook a meal inspired by it. Some ideas include:
- “The Tiger Who Came to Tea”—Bake some biscuits or make a special afternoon tea.
- “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory”—Create a chocolatey treat.
- “The Very Hungry Caterpillar”—Prepare a fruit platter inspired by the story.
Connecting books with real-life experiences makes stories even more engaging and memorable.
Reading as a Mother’s Day gift
A book gift on Mother’s Day can mean so much more than wrapping paper suggests. Here are a few thoughtful approaches:
Book gifts for your child to give
Help your child choose a favourite book to give as a gift to Mum or another carer. They could write a note inside explaining why they chose it, or read it aloud to her on the day.
A reading date together
Gift a dedicated “reading time” to your child or to yourself. Promise a cosy afternoon or evening where you curl up together with a good book, hot chocolate, and no interruptions—that’s a gift in itself.
Books that celebrate mothers and carers
Look for stories that feature mum characters or celebrate family bonds. These books help children see themselves and the people they love reflected in stories.
Building a reading routine
Mother’s Day can be the start of a new reading tradition. Here are some ways to incorporate more reading time into family life:
- Morning story time: Start the day with a short, uplifting book.
- Evening wind-down: Set aside a quiet time before bed for reading together.
- Themed storytelling sessions: Choose a theme (e.g., adventure, kindness, family) and let children pick books that match.
Consistency is key when it comes to developing literacy skills and a genuine love of reading. The habits you build now often stick for years to come.
Making reading feel like a celebration
Reading together doesn’t have to be a formal activity—it can simply be part of a warm, relaxed Mother’s Day celebration. A simple sentence before the shortcode is all you need to set the scene.
If your child would like to write something special about a favourite book, this activity helps them put their thoughts into words.
Write a book review
Fill in a short review while the book is still fresh — favourite moments, characters, whether they'd recommend it. Turns opinion into words.
Goal
Help your child organise their thoughts about a book and practise putting opinions into words — a skill that gets easier every time you do it.
You'll need
- Beginner, Intermediate or Advanced Book Review template — pick the right one for your child
- A book they've just finished
- Pencil and colouring pens
How to do it
Choose the right template — beginner for younger or less confident writers, advanced for those who have plenty to say. Sit down together soon after they've finished the book, while it's all still clear in their mind.
Go through the review together rather than leaving them to fill it in alone. Ask the questions out loud first: "What was your favourite bit? Who was your favourite character? Would you tell a friend to read it?" Let them answer verbally, then help them put the answer into the box.
The goal isn't a perfectly written review — it's the habit of thinking carefully about a book and forming an opinion. That habit, practised regularly, builds real readers.
Grab our resources
We have beginner, intermediate and advanced book review templates — pick the one that matches your child's confidence and let them share their thoughts.
Involving other family members
Reading doesn’t have to be limited to just parents—get the whole family involved.
- Sibling storytime: Encourage older siblings to read aloud to younger ones or to Mum.
- Grandparent reading hour: Ask grandparents to share their favourite childhood stories over a video call or in person.
- Family book club: Pick a book that everyone can read and discuss over a special meal.
Reading together as a family builds strong connections and encourages children to see books as a shared experience.
How Reading Chest supports family reading
Having a variety of books available at home makes it easier to establish meaningful reading habits. Reading Chest provides carefully selected books tailored to different reading levels, helping families build a strong reading foundation.
- Our book band system ensures children receive books suited to their reading abilities.
- We offer a flexible book swapping service so children always have fresh books to enjoy.
- Our selection covers fiction, non-fiction, and phonics-based books to support different reading stages.
Frequently asked questions
What are good Mother’s Day book gifts for children?
Look for books that feature positive family relationships, stories about mums and carers, or simply books your child has been wanting to read. Picture books work for younger children, while older readers might enjoy chapter books or series. Our book collection is searchable by reading level, so you can find age-appropriate stories.
Are there children’s books about mothers?
Yes, there are many wonderful books that celebrate mothers and family bonds. Some classics include “I Love My Mummy” and “The Kindness Jar,” and there are books for every age and reading level. Many feature mothers as caring, brave, funny, and real—not just the perfect storybook version.
How can I make reading feel special on Mother’s Day?
Set the scene: cosy blankets, warm drinks, fairy lights, or a special reading spot. Let your child choose the book if possible—their excitement is contagious. After reading, chat about the story together. The gift isn’t fancy—it’s the time, attention, and shared joy of a good story.
What if my child doesn’t want to read as a gift?
Not every child will be excited by a book alone, and that’s okay. You could pair it with something else they enjoy, use it as an activity together rather than a solitary gift, or frame it as “reading time together” rather than a physical present. The goal is connection, not obligation.
Mother’s Day is a perfect opportunity to celebrate family connections through reading. Whether through shared stories, creative activities, or simply spending time together with books, reading can bring families closer while supporting literacy skills.
Looking for a way to keep the reading fun going all year? Browse our activities and discover how to make reading part of your everyday family life.
