The Bump Book Club: Our Favorite Must-Reads for Winter
As a parent or parent-to-be, when you (finally) have the chance to crack open or hit start on a book, you want to make your choice count. So what are people are loving right now? The Bump editors scoured the literary scene and ear-marked the good reads—from pregnancy and parenting books to Rom-Coms and cookbooks—that are totally worth diving into this winter. Take a peek at The Bump Book Club seasonal picks and see what calls to you.
For the mom-to-be who wants to be prepared for one of life’s biggest changes.
The New Baby Blueprint: Caring for You and Your Little One
They say motherhood doesn’t come with a manual, but The New Baby Blueprint, brought to you by the American Academy of Pediatrics, comes pretty close. Author Whitney Casares, a pediatrician and mom of two, walks expectant parents through all the essentials of prepping for baby’s arrival, including what to expect in the first days and weeks, and how to prepare your home, your partner and your brain for having a newborn—all through a relatable mix of humor and practical advice.
Buy it: $15, Amazon.com
Bumpin: The Modern Guide to Pregnancy
Expectant millennial moms are hailing this book as the “new pregnancy bible” and “the only pregnancy book you need.” Leslie Schrock walks readers through what she’s identified as the five trimesters of pregnancy, from pre-conception through the first few months with baby, debunking myths with the latest scientific data and offering empathetic guidance with a healthy dose of real talk.
Buy it: $16, Amazon.com
For the mom or dad who could use a little advice.
The Pediatrician’s Guide to Feeding Babies and Toddlers
Anthony Porto and Dina DiMaggio, both pediatricians and parents, know all too well that many of parents’ most pressing questions revolve around feeding, especially about the progression from baby’s first solids to toddler-friendly table foods. To help take out the guesswork, the authors break down when, how and what to feed your little one during the first crucial years of life, offering tasty recipes and insightful stories along the way.
Buy it: $12, Amazon.com
For What It’s Worth: A Perspective on How to Thrive and Survive Parenting Ages 0-2
There’s a ton of parenting books out there, to be sure, but there’s still a lack of parenting guides that reflect today’s diverse family makeups. Enter: For What It’s Worth, written by a clinical psychologist to be inclusive of all types of parents regardless of race, sexuality, gender or economic status. Weaving together personal and professional stories backed by science, Bethany Cook addresses everything from the impact of sleep deprivation to your sex drive after baby, same-sex and multicultural parenting and how to grapple with a changing self-identity as a new parent.
Buy it: $14, Amazon.com
For the parent who needs an escape.
The Testaments: The Sequel to The Handmaid’s Tale
If you’re a fan of Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale, this companion book is practically required reading. (It’s just as stellar as a standalone read too.) Voted as the #1 book of the year by Amazon book editors, the story contains the testimonies of two women who have grown up under the Gilead regime, as well as Aunt Lydia’s, and exposes the inner workings of the suppressive government. Each woman must decide what she’s made of and how far she’ll go for what she believes.
Buy it: $18, Amazon.com
Where the Crawdads Sing
This title was a best-selling sensation this year, and for good reason. Delia Owens’s “painfully beautiful” book, as The New York Times called it, is as much a suspenseful tale of murder as it is an emotional coming-of-age story. When a man is found dead in a quiet North Carolina town, the locals suspect Kaya, a young woman who has grown up alone and isolated in the marsh she calls home. As the investigation unfolds, the story reveals the Marsh Girl’s past, filled with attempts to find love and connection, and leads to a surprising conclusion.
Buy it: $10, Amazon.com
For the parent who wants to feel empowered.
Girl, Wash Your Face: Stop Believing the Lies About Who You Are So You Can Become Who You Were Meant to Be
Everyone has moments of feeling overwhelmed and unworthy—perhaps moms most of all. In this refreshing, modern day self-help book, Rachel Hollis exposes the 20 lies and misconceptions she says hold us back from living joyfully and productively, and offers practical strategies for how to move forward and honor our true selves. It’s unflinchingly raw, fearlessly funny and gives you the kick in the pants you didn’t even know you needed.
Buy it: $12, Amazon.com
Educated: A Memoir
In this best-selling memoir, which has garnered accolades too many to mention, Tara Westover recounts her nonconformist upbringing in a survivalist Mormon family living in rural Idaho. Isolated from mainstream society, she was denied an education and left to fend for herself when one of her brothers became abusive. But despite numerous obstacles, she followed her thirst for knowledge across continents and eventually earned a PhD from Cambridge University. It’s an unforgettable story about one woman’s discovery of education and the price she has to pay for it.
Buy it:$14, Amazon.com
For Rom-Com lovers looking to indulge.
In the Unlikely Event
Currently #2 in the entire Amazon store, In the Unlikely Event is an angst-ridden, laugh-out-loud funny, emotional roller coaster of a romance tale about love, promises and betrayal. After a brief fling, two young lovers vow to be together only if fate brings them together again—but 10 years later, one of them breaks their oath and must decide if she should step away from the life she’s built to follow what could be her destiny. Prepare to feel all the feels.
Buy it: $14, Amazon.com
Regretting You
Here’s a riveting read about family, tragedy and first loves by Colleen Hoover that’ll touch the heart of mothers everywhere. Morgan’s relationship with her 16-year-old daughter Clara is already tenuous when a shocking fatal accident strains their bond even further. In their grief, Morgan finds comfort in the last person she’d expect, while Clara turns to a boy she’d been forbidden to see. The story offers plenty of romance, but the real love story here is between mother and daughter.
Buy it: $11, Amazon.com
For extra-special storytime with the little ones.
Princess Cupcake Jones and the Missing Tutu
Part of the Princess Cupcake Jones series, this delightful book tells the tale of a modern day princess who loves making a mess. When her beloved tutu goes missing, readers join Cupcake on a search of the castle and discover hidden treasures along the way. It’s a sweet story that teaches little ones the importance of tidying up after yourself, featuring a non-white cast of characters and a female protagonist who knows her mind.
Buy it: $17, Amazon.com
Breathing Makes It Better
Here’s an interactive story that helps young kids learn how to grapple with difficult emotions like anger, fear, sadness, anxiety and confusion using the power of breath. After each story the book offers simple cues to help kids take a breath and find calm when they’re in need of a little mindfulness. Rhythmic writing and beautiful illustrations make this an engaging read for preschoolers.
Buy it: $13, Amazon.com
For the mom or dad who loves to get creative in the kitchen.
The Multi-Cooker Baby Food Cookbook: 100 Easy Recipes for Your Slow Cooker, Pressure Cooker or Multi-Cooker
“Set it and forget it”—a phrase that’s music to any parent’s ear. For those with little time to slave over a stove (and what parent doesn’t?), this book walks you through how to make everything from fresh, unprocessed baby food to full family meals using a slow cooker with 100 wholesome recipes. You simply put the food in the pot, set the time and walk away. You score more time out of the kitchen and your kiddo still gets delicious, homemade food. Win-win!
Buy it: $13, Amazon.com
The Big Book of Organic Baby Food: Baby Purees, Finger Foods and Toddler Meals for Every Stage
If you’re going to buy just one cookbook, this massive collection of over 230 scrumptious, organic recipes should be it. Offering ideas for infant purees, toddler finger foods and kid-friendly meals the whole family can enjoy, it’ll serve you for years to come. Not only do you get recipes that’ll please all palates, but each chapter also delves into children’s developmental changes and how that should inform your nutritional decisions.
Buy it: $14, Amazon.com
For the parent who has their hands full.
What Fresh Hell: Laughing in the Face of Motherhood
Sometimes when parenting gets tough, the only thing you can do is laugh about it—and then tune in to What Fresh Hell to hear Amy Wilson and Margaret Ables hilariously discuss similar parenting woes and come up with concrete solutions for tackling them. Billed as “a comedy podcast solving today’s parenting dilemmas so you don’t have to,” the episodes feature two funny moms with different parenting styles talk about parenting issues from multiple perspectives—and then interview a guest expert who may or may not agree with them.
Listen in: Postcasts.apple.com
Respectful Parenting: Janet Lansbury Unruffled
Raise your hand if you’d like your own personal parenting coach whispering tips into your ear! (Oh, everybody? That’s what we thought.) Janet Lansbury tackles everything from child discipline woes to developmental concerns through her lens of respectful parenting and teaches parents how to handle the challenges while creating relationships with your kids built of respect, trust and love.
Listen in: Podcasts.apple.com
Published December 2019
Plus, check out our past Book Club picks:
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