Children's Picture Books About Breastfeeding
Nursing Stories to Read With Your Young Child
Jan 2, 2009
In their young lives, small children will encounter parents both breast and bottle feeding their babies. There are so many images of bottle feeding in picture books, and it is good to balance these with some stories that feature nursing mothers as well.
Stories With Breastfeeding as a Background
Many picture books about nursing focus on the act of breastfeeding. However, there are a few books in which breastfeeding moms and children are simply part of the story.
Mama, Mama, Jean Marzolla
The Mama, Mama and Papa, Papa duo are wonderful books in and of themselves. They are suitable for babies, toddlers and preschoolers. The illustrations are simple and striking. Baby animals describe how they cuddle, nurse, and learn from their parents. The series is a good one to give to new parents.
Only the Cat Saw, Ashley Wolff
This is a lovely story about night time and the view a cat sees from a house window. It is a story about family life. During the night, the cat sees fireflies dancing, an owl hunting, and the mother of the house wakes up to nurse her baby in the rocking chair. This book is suitable for ages two and up.
We have a Baby, Cathryn Falwell
This story about a baby is a wonderful read. It's also suitable for just about every family. The illustrations are ambiguous enough that the older child could be either a girl or a boy, and the family's race is not specific. The baby breastfeeds as the toddler cuddles in the mama's arms and eats a cookie. This book is particularly suitable for older siblings.
Picture Books that Feature Breastfeeding
At Mama's Heart, Colleen Newman
This simple book features photos of mothers, babies, toddlers, and preschoolers nursing. It's a sweet poem about how nursing makes the children feel happy. There are a few silly photos of children breastfeeding in funny positions, and the book also shows tandem nursing and breastfeeding while pregnant. Enjoy this book together with a child: the thinner pages make it rather easy to tear. This is a book to enjoy with toddlers and older children.
Breastfeeding: Portraits in Black and White, Stacie Turner
This simple black and white board book is a good book to share with a nursing baby or toddler or an older child. There are no words, just beautiful black and white photos of newborns and toddlers nursing. This is a good book to give to an older child to honor the end of a nursing relationship. Snuggle and talk about the book with a smaller child. The board book format gives it an advantage as a book to share with children under two, though it also makes the book more costly.
I'm Made of Mama's Milk, Mary Olsen
Written from the perspective of a nursing toddler. This snuggly breastfeeding book comes in a board book format. The photos are very soft focus, which makes this book best for reading one on one with your child.
Mama's Milk, Michael Elsohn Ross, and Illustrated by Ashley Wolff
This lovely book shows a human mother nursing and cuddling her child, then it moves on to show many other nursing pairs. There is a lot of fun nursing information about other animals, too. Did you know that kangaroos make pink milk? Ashley Wolff also did the illustrations for Only the Cat Saw. This book is suitable for children who are curious about nursing information.
The Wonderful Place, Chrissy Butler
This relatively new children's picture book has brilliant and colorful pictures. It features many statements from children about how nursing makes them feel. Nursing toddlers and preschoolers will relate to pictures of older nurslings.
Enjoy your time snuggling with your child and reading these lovely picture books!
Sources:
At Mama's Heart, Colleen Newman
I'm Made of Mama's Milk, Mary Olsen
Mama, Mama, Jean Marzolla
Mama's Milk, Michael Elsohn Ross
Only the Cat Saw, Ashley Wolff
We have a baby, Cathryn Falwell
The Wonderful Place, Chrissy Butler
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