Check out recommendations for pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period here.
Aimee, Kayla. Anchored: Finding Hope in the Unexpected. (Full disclosure: Kayla’s a friend. I’d be recommending this even if she wasn’t.)
Ashworth, Trisha. I Was a Really Good Mom Before I Had Kids: Reinventing Modern Motherhood.
Beck, Martha N. Expecting Adam: A True Story of Birth, Rebirth, and Everyday Magic
Becker, Amy Julia. A Good and Perfect Gift: Faith, Expectations, and a Little Girl Named Penny.
Brazelton, T. Berry. Touchpoints.
Briant, Monta Z. Baby Sign Language: Early Communication for Hearing Babies and Toddlers.
Brown, Brené. Daring Greatly: How the Courage to be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead.
Brown, Ian. The Boy in the Moon: A Father’s Journey to Understand His Extraordinary Son.
Chwast, Debra. An Unexpected Life: A Mother and Son’s Story of Love, Determination, Autism, and Art.
Cockrell, Stacie. Babyproofing Your Marriage: How to Laugh More, Argue Less, and Communicate Better as Your Family Grows.
Collins, Paul. Not Even Wrong: Adventures in Autism.
Coplan, James. Making Sense of Autism Spectrum Disorders: Create the Brightest Future for Your Child with the Best Treatment Options.
Edgerton, Clyde. Papadaddy’s Book for New Fathers: Advice to Dads of All Ages.
Faber, Adele and Elaine Mazlish. How to Talk So Kids Will Listen & Listen So Kids Will Talk. (Everyone should read this book, not just parents.)
Hood, Ann. The Red Thread.
Klein, Tovah. How Toddlers Thrive: What Parents Can Do Today for Children Ages 2-5 to Plant the Seeds of Lifelong Success.
Martini, Adrienne. Hillbilly Gothic: A Memoir of Madness and Motherhood.
Mogel, Wendy. The Blessing of a Skinned Knee: Using Jewish Teachings to Raise Self-Reliant Children.
Mogel, Wendy. The Blessing of a B-Minus: Using Jewish Teachings to Raise Resilient Teenagers.
Paul, Annie Murphy. Origins: How the Nine Months Before Birth Shape the Rest of Our Lives.
Pincott, Jena. Do Chocolate Lovers Have Sweeter Babies?: The Surprising Science of Pregnancy.
Rapp, Emily. The Still Point of the Turning World.
Rough, Bonnie J. Carrier: Untangling the Danger in My DNA.
Shumaker, Heather. It’s OK Not to Share and Other Renegade Rules for Raising Competent and Compassionate Kids.
Thompson, Tracy. The Ghost in the House: Motherhood, Raising Children, and Struggling with Depression.
Xinran. Message from an Unknown Chinese Mother: Stories of Loss and Love.
Zevin, Dan. Dan Gets a Minivan: Life at the Intersection of Dude and Dad.