--- description: These titles are sure to delight that special lady this Mother’s Day title: 13 Mother's Day Gifts for Book Lovers image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltde093bcdab65f2d0/6988d9b9bc6cfc69913e2a3c/time-logo.jpg?branch=production --- * [Living](/tag/time-section-living/) ## Living Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close # 13 Mother's Day Gifts for Book Lovers by [Real Simple](/author/real-simple/) ## Real Simple Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close May 8, 2015 3:30 PM CUT by [Real Simple](/author/real-simple/) ## Real Simple Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close May 8, 2015 3:30 PM CUT ### _My Mom, Style Icon_ by Piper Weiss  Chronicle Books Based on the blog of the same name, this book is perfect for a fashionable mom. Filled with photos and stories of stylish women from the past several decades, it will take her on a trip down memory lane. All of the stories are grouped by theme—from wedding fashion to a mother’s “rebellious” choices—along with anecdotes from daughters (and sons!) who watched their mothers’ style evolve. **To buy:** $19, [chroniclebooks.com](http://www.chroniclebooks.com/titles/my-mom-style-icon.html "undefined"). ### _Balancing Acts: Three Prima Ballerinas Becoming Mothers_ by Lucy Gray  Princeton Architectural Press This book of photographs follows three ballerinas-turned-mothers over the course of 14 years. All three decided to have children in the midst of their already physically taxing careers, and award-winning photographer Lucy Gray captures a unique work-life balance as they parent behind the curtain and perform onstage. If your mother is into classical ballet or appreciates photography, she’ll love these stunning, intimate black-and-white photos. **To buy:** $19, [amazon.com](http://www.amazon.com/Balancing-Acts-Ballerinas-Becoming-Mothers/dp/1616892544 "undefined"). ### _Icebox Cakes_ by Jean Sagendorph and Jessie Sheehan  Chronicle Books Now, she can bake her favorite childhood dessert from scratch. With more than 20 recipes for every taste—from lavender-blueberry to espresso chip—she’ll want to give each old-school cake a try. The cookbook also lists the essential tools she’ll need, so if you notice one that’s missing from her kitchen, buy it to complete the gift. **To buy:** $15, [amazon.com](http://www.amazon.com/Icebox-Cakes-Recipes-Coolest-Town/dp/1452112215 "undefined"). ### _The Mystery Writers of America Cookbook_ by Kate White  Quirk Books This unconventional cookbook features breakfasts, appetizers, desserts, cocktails and more from your favorite mystery authors and their characters. The book also offers multiple sidebars that link the food to the fiction—like poisons people used to plant in their gardens, and an explainer about how “red herring” went from the plate to the page. **To buy:** $19, [amazon.com](http://www.amazon.com/The-Mystery-Writers-America-Cookbook/dp/1594747571 "undefined"). ### _Mom’s One Line a Day: A Five-Year Memory Book_  Chronicle Books This journal makes it easy to keep track of everyday memories, and she can chronicle and compare special experiences, funny family quotes, or random thoughts for years. It’s a fun way to jot down even the simplest daily activities, and turns keeping a diary into a meaningful task for mom, too. **To buy:** $10, [amazon.com](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0811874907/ref=pd%5Flpo%5Fsbs%5Fdp%5Fss%5F1?pf%5Frd%5Fp=1944687722 "undefined"). ### _Diamond Head_ by Cecily Wong  Harper Following a horrific tragedy, four generations of women are forced to deal with a long-kept family secret. The wives and daughters of the Leong family are haunted by a Chinese legend that says each person is bound to their beloved with an invisible string, but whenever they make a romantic mistake, that string gathers knots. This knotted string is passed through generations, and ends with Theresa—18 and pregnant—who is burdened with the Leong family secrets. The novel spans years and perspectives—chapters are told by sisters, daughters, and wives—as the women grieve, and eventually rebuild. **To buy:** $20, [amazon.com](http://www.amazon.com/Diamond-Head-Novel-Cecily-Wong/dp/0062345435 "undefined"). ### _Capture the Moment_ by Sarah Wilkerson  Amphoto Books This book is both beautiful to page through and a thorough instruction manual for beginning photographers. More than 100 contributors from Clickin Moms, the largest female-photographer social network, have included photographs and advice for capturing basic, understated moments in everyday life and beautiful ways to chronicle family in photos. She’ll be inspired to pick up her camera and finally use it—without having to attend an actual photography class. **To buy:** $16, [amazon.com](http://www.amazon.com/Capture-Moment-Photographers-Finding-Everyday/dp/0770435270 "undefined"). ### _The Legacy of Ruth Bader Ginsburg_ by Scott Dodson  Cambridge University Press A history-buff mom will want to curl up with this recently-released history of Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s legacy for hours every night. It discusses Ginsburg’s career as a lawyer, professor, appellate judge, and justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, focusing on her most influential cases. Many leaders from academic and political fields contribute to create a thorough picture of her impressive career. **To buy:** $27, [amazon.com](http://www.amazon.com/The-Legacy-Ruth-Bader-Ginsburg/dp/1107062462 "undefined"). ### _Listen to Your Mother_ by Ann Imig  G.P. Putnam's Sons This collection of stories was born from a live event asking women to share their stories about motherhood—now the show happens in more than 20 cities across America. This frank, funny, and touching anthology puts many of those stories down on paper, and discusses the complex and diverse array of parenting experiences, from step-motherhood to infertility, and everything in between. **To buy:** $20, [amazon.com](http://www.amazon.com/Listen-Your-Mother-What-Saying/dp/0399169857 "undefined"). ### _Everyone Loves Paris_ by Leslie Jonath  teNeues For the mom who loves travel, and specifically has a soft spot for Paris, this illustrated coffee table book highlights the city’s most memorable tourist destinations and charming streets with 85 full-color illustrations and interpretations of city life. Even if she isn’t an artist herself, she’ll appreciate this unique look at the City of Light. **To buy:** $21, [amazon.com](http://www.amazon.com/Everyone-Loves-Paris-Leslie-Jonath/dp/3832798102 "undefined"). ### _Cookie Love_ by Kate Leahy and Mindy Segal  Ten Speed Press She doesn’t have to be a pro baker and decorator to make a batch of cookies, but she _can_ be inspired to go beyond chocolate chip. This book contains almost 300 pages of unexpected cookie concoctions (with beautiful photographs) and expert baking secrets, as well as the pantry ingredients she’ll need to have in her kitchen at _all_ times so that she can make a batch whenever she wants. **To buy:** $19, [amazon.com](http://www.amazon.com/Cookie-Love-Techniques-Ordinary-Extraordinary/dp/1607746816 "undefined"). ### _Enchanted Forest: An Inky Quest & Coloring Book_ by Johanna Basford  Laurence King Publishing Coloring books are no longer just for kids—they can be a creative way for adults to relax and unwind, as well. While this book has childlike elements—like hidden objects for the artist to find—its intricate scenes and high-quality paper to prevent bleeding make it the perfect de-stressing activity for grown-ups—almost therapeutic. **To buy:** $11, [amazon.com](http://www.amazon.com/Enchanted-Forest-Inky-Quest-Coloring/dp/1780674880 "undefined"). ### Inspire: The Art of Living with Nature  CICO Books This beautiful book offers up inventive tips for incorporating elements of the outdoors into entertaining and home décor. It’s divided by outdoor spaces—including sections on Flower Gardens, Beaches, and Vegetable Patches—with specific projects that help bring the outside in through vases, mantel décor, wreaths, and more. **To buy:** $19, [amazon.com](http://www.amazon.com/Inspire-The-Art-Living-Nature/dp/1782490957 "undefined"). _This_ [_article_](http://www.realsimple.com/holidays-entertaining/holidays/mothers-day/books-for-mom "undefined") _originally appeared on_ [_RealSimple.com_](http://www.realsimple.com/ "undefined")_._ _More from Real Simple:_ * [8 Custom Gifts That Show Off Mom’s Favorite Photos](http://www.realsimple.com/holidays-entertaining/holidays/mothers-day/custom-photo-gifts?xid=time-rs "undefined") * [11 Mother’s Day Mugs That’ll Fuel Her Coffee Addiction](http://www.realsimple.com/holidays-entertaining/holidays/mothers-day/mothers-day-mugs?xid=time-rs "undefined") * [5 Things You Should Know About Your Mom](http://www.realsimple.com/work-life/family/know-mom?xid=time-rs "undefined") ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/3821810/13-mothers-day-gifts-for-book-lovers/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/3821810/13-mothers-day-gifts-for-book-lovers/"},"headline":"13 Mother's Day Gifts for Book Lovers","datePublished":"2015-05-08T15:30:45.000Z","dateModified":"2026-05-11T04:42:35.931Z","description":"These titles are sure to delight that special lady this Mother’s Day","url":"https://time.com/3821810/13-mothers-day-gifts-for-book-lovers/","keywords":["Living","Books","advice","Mother's Day"],"thumbnailUrl":"","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Real Simple","jobTitle":null,"url":"https://time.com/author/real-simple/"}],"articleSection":"","image":[],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"/tag/time-section-living/","name":"Living"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/3821810/13-mothers-day-gifts-for-book-lovers/","name":"13 Mother's Day Gifts for Book Lovers"}}]}] ```