Quality Reads For The Whole Family: CanCan Mom’s Top Book Recommendations

Enrich your library with CanCan Mom’s top book recommendations that educate, entertain, and foster a lifelong love for reading.

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CanCan Mom’s hundreds of creative Get-to-Do Lists, routines, schedules, and solutions all make motherhood easier and more fun! Recognizing that you “Get To Do” these things because you are blessed to have a family simply reminds you to Interact with love and laughter more often than impatience.

Have fun incorporating my unique Fast & Free Quick Steps into your daily life!

Children’s Story Books:

Knight Owl by Christopher Denise—gorgeous illustrations of a little owl who grew up wanting to become a knight at the nearby castle. He achieves his dream, but then knights begin to disappear. Can the Knight Owl save the day? Preschoolers and some Elementary Schoolers

Little Traveler Board Book Set of Four (Landmarks, Food, Vehicles, Animals) by Mudpuppy—Little ones can travel the world through these picture books to see what Landmarks, Food, Vehicles, and Animals are in different countries. Preschoolers

Night in the City by Julie Downing—when night arrives, most people are headed for bed, but see who gets to stay up all night helping other people in this beautiful storybook. Preschoolers and some Elementary Schoolers

Classic Children’s Books:

Best Word Book Ever by Richard Scarry (recommend all his books)—big, detailed, fun, and colorful drawings are labeled with words so children can easily connect the items and the words. They can point to what interests them, and a parent, grandparent, or other reader can sound out the words with the child. Preschoolers

Bread and Jam for Frances by Russell Hoban (series) Frances is a picky eater, only enjoying bread and jam. What can be done to get her to try new dishes? Depending on the edition–Preschoolers and Elementary Schoolers

Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson (series) Harold carries a purple crayon. He draws himself into and out of trouble on his many adventures on land, sea, and even in space. Preschoolers

Winnie-the-Pooh by A. A. Milne (series) Enjoy all the adventures of Christopher Robin, Winnie-the-Pooh, Piglet, Tigger, Owl, Rabbit, Eeyore, Kanga, and Roo in the Hundred Acre Wood. Read to Preschoolers, and Elementary Schoolers can read it themselves.

Read Aloud to Children Books:

Feeling Grateful by Kobi Yamada—for kids of all ages. Follow a bear and friends as they learn about gratitude.

Finding Muchness by Kobi Yamada—for kids of all ages. Follow a little bird discovering the vastness of life.

One Hundred and One Dalmatians (the full-length novel) by Dodie Smith. You may think you know the story, but here is the entire tale. Short chapters are great for bedtime reading—and especially fun if timed to read Chapter 14, “Christmas Eve” (pp 141-155 in the original book) on Christmas Eve. (Illustrated with ink drawings) If read earlier in the day, the children can have a tea party when the dogs enjoy one or baked goods for a meal or baths when the puppies have them.

The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster. Illustrations by Jules Feiffer. A token, a tollbooth, a detailed map, and Tick Tock the Watch Dog are the items and characters that help young Milo navigate this fun and clever adventure story.

Parenting Books:

Divorce:

Divorce: How to Tell The Kids by Vikki Stark, MSW, MFT

The Effective Mediation by Dr. Michelle Rozen

Helping Your Kids Cope with Divorce: The Sandcastles Way by M. Gary Neuman, L.M.H.C.

The Relationship Fix by Dr. Jenn Mann

Meditation:

Life Falls Apart, but You Don’t Have To: Mindful Methods for Staying Calm In the Midst of Chaos by Julie Potiker

Practical Parenting:

Fed Up With Frenzy: Slow Parenting in a Fast-Moving World by Susan Sachs Lipman

Healthy Sleep Habits, Healthy Child by Dr. Marc Weissbluth

The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo

The Magic of Mojo: The Creative Power Behind Success by Ariana Ayu

Siblings Without Rivalry by Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish

Simple Abundance by Sarah Ban Breathnach (A CanCan Mom Favorite!)

Practical Parenting of Tweens and Teens:

The Five Love Languages of Teenagers by Dr. Gary Chapman

I’m Not Mad, I Just Hate You!: A New Understanding of Mother-Daughter Conflict by Roni Sandler, PhD

Love You Forever by Robert Munsch (Another CanCan Mom Top Pick!)

Raising Kids to Thrive by Kenneth Ginsburg

Pregnancy:

What to Expect When You’re Expecting by Heidi Murkoff

Single Moms:

The Complete Single Mother by Leah Klungness

Co-Parenting Works!: Helping Your Children Thrive after Divorce by Tammy G Daughtry

The Co-Parents’ Handbook: Raising Well-Adjusted, Resilient, and Resourceful Kids in a Two-Home Family from Little Ones to Young Adults by Karen Bonnell 

The Relationship Fix by Dr. Jenn Mann

Fiction for Moms:

The Bodyguard by Katherine Center—A light mystery romance with great characters and lots of laughs. Who is the villain? Will they succeed in harming the client? Only if the unwilling bodyguard gets distracted by the best friend, the ex, or the client. (Definitely a CanCan Mom FAVE!)

Book Lovers by Emily Henry—Two sisters, one married and pregnant, the other is neither, set out to visit a small town and have a Hallmark Movie adventure together, complete with a To-Do List that includes guys in flannel shirts and saving a small business. Laugh out loud, funny and romantic.

Fast Woman by Jennifer Crusie—Three women meet as they become sisters-in-law. Then, they become best friends who look out for each other as their lives unfold in unforeseen ways. When one gets divorced and becomes the Office Manager for a detective agency, there is a lot of zinging and banter along with a few funny capers, but then long-held family secrets come to light. Good thing there are Private Investigators on the case as someone will kill to keep these secrets. Mystery/Romance (Also recommended: Bet Me) (A CanCan Mom go-to author!)

The Friend Zone by Abby Jimenez—PLEASE NOTE: Adult language and situations. Two lifelong friends: One makes the occasionally raunchy outfits for small dogs, is dating a military man currently based overseas, and is the Maid of Honor. The other is a quiet painter, engaged to the love of her life and the soon-to-be bride. Let the fun begin as the Best Man and best friend of the groom-to-be makes quite an impression on the Maid of Honor. It’s both a laugh-out-loud funny and heartbreaking, sob-inducing love story. PLEASE READ THESE BOOKS IN ORDER. The second in the series is The Happy Ever After Playlist, which picks up where book one ends. Jimenez outdoes herself in the sequel. Keep the tissues nearby for both tears of joy and sorrow, as this surprise love story looks to be an impossible dream despite the title of the book.

Other People’s Things by Kerry Anne King—a woman has a compunction she cannot ignore, which began when she was six years old. Over two decades later, she still finds herself in trouble with her family, her narcissist soon-to-be ex-husband, and the law, even though she knows plenty of positive outcomes to her actions. With support from old and new friends and an undercover PI, can she finally stop herself or help herself?

The Wallflower Series (historical): Try this series even if you’ve never read or don’t like historical romances. They are love stories for the ages—especially the first three books. Secrets of a Summer Night, It Happened One Autumn, The Devil in Winter, and A Scandal in Spring by Lisa Kleypas—four friends (two are also sisters) deemed unmarriageable by society go husband hunting as their families need or demand they do. These intelligent and determined women will devise ways to get married no matter how outrageous the plans are. These intriguing love stories are delightfully devious and satisfyingly settled with men worthy of The Wallflowers. The author has several great historical series and stand-alone books. The Travis family series is set in the modern era. Sugar Daddy and Blue-Eyed Devil are good, but loved book 3, Smooth Talking Stranger—which can be read on its own.

Non-Fiction for Moms:

Grayson by Lynne Cox—while in the ocean very early one morning, a swimmer discovers and connects with a lost baby gray whale. This is her real-life quest to reunite mother and baby and the unexpected responses she receives from both—heartwarming adventure.

A New Kind of Country by Dorothy Gilman is the adventurous life the author created for herself after she was divorced. Takes place a while ago, but her discoveries about herself and life are timeless. (Also the author of the Mrs. Pollifax CIA series and many stand-alone mysteries.)

You might also enjoy Keep Moving by Maggie Smith–a book of hope!

Children’s Books on Helpful Topics:

Adoption:

Tell Me Again About the Night I Was Born by Jaime Lee Curtis (Adoption post)

Bedwetting:

Don’t Cry, Stay Dry: Bedwetting Causes Explained and Natural Treatments for Kids to Try by Jeanice Mitchell

Dry All Night: The Picture Book Technique That Stops Bedwetting by Alison Mack

Ferdinand Uses the Potty: Overcoming Bed-Wetting Fears by Jason Tucker

Sammy the Elephant & Mr. Camel: A Story to Help Children Overcome Bedwetting by Joyce C Mills, PhD

Dealing with Death:

What’s Heaven by Maria Shriver (Dealing with Death post)

Divorce:

Two Homes by Claire Masurel (Great for younger children with divorce/co-parenting)

Self Confidence:

Just Feel: How to Be Stronger, Happier, Healthier, and More by Mallika Chopra (8-12-year-olds)

Woo Hoo! You’re Doing Great! by Sandra Boynton (author of 75 books), a picture book to encourage and support children as they face new experiences. Preschoolers and some Elementary Schoolers

Check Back For Added Titles

Please keep checking back, as new favorites in all genres will continue to be added.

What are some of your favorite reads? Please share your picks in the comment section below or email me at Cheryl@cancanmom.com.