Books for Mom this Mother’s Day

Finding the perfect gift for mom can be tough. To make it easier for you, we’ve compiled a list of books that could make the perfect Mother’s Day gift, especially for mom’s who love cooking, art, or gardening.

You can also use code 01UNCP30 to get 30% off your order and free shipping on order over $75.

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Edible North Carolina: A Journey across a State of Flavor
Edited by Marcie Cohen Ferris. K. C. Hysmith, Associate Editor. Photography by Baxter Miller. Foreword by Vivian Howard

“The book’s appeal transcends any one state. It’s a gorgeous collection of articles, photographs and recipes that capture and celebrate the distinctiveness of regional culinary traditions, and it’s an epicurean voyeur’s delight.”—Frank Bruni, New York Times

“North Carolina’s food scene is shining bright, and here’s the book for the moment.”—News & Observer

“This richly researched body shows how centuries-old food traditions still have the muscle to engineer how a place informs tastes, and how shifting tastes can also inspire a place. . . . required reading for anyone who calls this place home.”—Our State

Climate Change Gardening for the South: Planet-Friendly Solutions for Thriving Gardens
by Barbara J. Sullivan

“Sullivan writes clearly and with obvious passion, and her text is accessible to backyard beginners as well as specialists.”—StarNews

“Sullivan just might change your perception of what makes a successful garden. Whether a suburban yard, a strip in an urban setting, containers on a patio, or an open field, it’s possible to create a vibrantly healthy garden that is part of a larger climate change solution.”—Coastline, WQHR

“Will assist a wide range of gardeners, experienced or not, in creating climate-friendly gardens at their own homes. Explaining the key scientific principles in simple, understandable language, Sullivan teaches how to grow places that are alive, fascinating, and more attractive to birds and other wildlife.”—Barbara W. Ellis, author of Chesapeake Gardening & Landscaping: The Essential Green Guide

Art of the State: Celebrating the Visual Art of North Carolina
by Liza Roberts. Foreword by Lawrence J. Wheeler. Photographs by Lissa Gotwals.

“Art of the State offers a sprawling, vital survey of North Carolina art now. . . . The book itself is impressively designed and rich with captivating images of art that are often paired with profiles of artists and collectors. These cutaway sections—separate from but interspersed with the main text—give the book the feel of a well-curated gallery, with individual pieces hanging on the wall and coalescing around a holistic theme.”—INDY Week

“The photos and the book’s description of the artists’ different approaches gives its readers and viewers a spectacular introduction to the importance of North Carolina and all that it offers artists and art fans.”—D.G. Martin, ChapelBoro

“Art of the State gathers and presents the fertile cultural wellspring of artists, the communities they thrive in, and the diversity of support and philanthropy that broadens visibility and ensures access to citizens across our state.”—Jaki Shelton Green, Poet Laureate of North Carolina

“An impressive overview of contemporary art in North Carolina”—Zoe Starling, NC State University’s Gregg Museum of Art & Design

Savor the South Cookbooks

Now Available in Paperback!

“A sharp collection of slim, single-subject volumes exploring Southern food from the University of North Carolina Press”—The New York Times

The New Southern Gardener Cookbook: Enjoying the Best from Homegrown Gardens, Farmers’ Markets, Roadside Stands, and CSA Farm Boxes
by Sheri Castle

“A celebration of fresh seasonal fruits and vegetables, from apples and asparagus to winter squash and zucchini.”—New York Times Book Review

A “New Southern Cookbook We Love” Editor’s Pick and Southern Living Test Kitchen Approved!—Southern Living

“If you see the garden as an extension of your kitchen, and if you happen to appreciate a Southern sensibility. . .you’ll be happy with the vegetable-focused recipes.”—The Washington Post

“Features produce that flourish in the South (think cucumbers and onions or savory smoked ham) but are nevertheless suitable for seasonal cooking across the country.”—ForeWord Reviews

The Unfinished Business of Unsettled Things: Art from an African American South
Edited by Bernard L. Herman

The companion publication to the exhibit which is on display at the Ackland Art Museum April 21, 2023 – July 2, 2023

This book invites readers into a growing, dynamic conversation among scholars and critics around a vibrant community of artists from an African American South. This constellation of creative makers includes familiar figures, such as Thornton Dial Sr., Lonnie Holley, and quiltmakers Nettie Young and Mary Lee Bendolph, whose work is collected in major museum and private collections. 

Didn’t find the perfect book in this list? You can check out other curated reading lists or browse all of our titles.