Jones, Amanda Jane & Jennifer Fernandez. Mother / Founder: 68 Women on the Trials and Triumphs of Starting a Business and Raising a Family. Artisan. Oct. 2024. 336p. ISBN 9781648293450. $35. CHILD REARING

When Fernandez was assigned to write a feature on Jones’s home for a decorating magazine, the authors bonded. At the time, the docuseries LuLaRich had just released, which drew attention to multilevel marketing and attracted many mothers. As self-employed mothers themselves, Fernandez and Jones wanted to demonstrate that women can be good at both parenting and running their own business, that both roles can coexist outside of the confines of the MLM schemes that seemed to be attracting many mothers. Their book features 60 women who have started businesses in a variety of fields and roles; they’re farmers, pastry chefs, artists, lawyers, educators, designers, and more. Stunning full-color action photos of mothers who are business owners are integrated throughout the text. There’s also a “What I’ve Learned” section that includes information on how to include children in work and stay focused on one’s mission. Personal essays by the authors and other contributors are printed on pink pages, along with a “Motherload” section that features answers to common questions. VERDICT Readers will find these stories from women of various backgrounds, in all sorts of enterprises, to be relatable. The book’s design is also attractive and great for perusing.

Morris, Rachel. Working Mother: Simple Coaching Strategies for Success at Work and Home. Practical Inspiration. Sept. 2024. 256p. ISBN 9781788606158. pap. $18.99. CHILD REARING

Longtime maternity coach Morris supports mothers in their transition back to the workplace. The first part of her book details the emotional experiences many women face and fear during their pregnancy: “mommy guilt,” overwhelm, concerns about money and childcare, and worry about change itself, just to name a few. Drawing on her experience in the field, Morris focuses on helping mothers find new perspectives through cognitive reframing. The second half zeroes in on strategies for reconnecting with self by showing women how to crystalize their personal values, make choices that work for them, and effectively communicate those decisions to others. The book concludes with sections on working collaboratively (flow time), ensuring that one gets enough sleep, and managing milestones, such as working on the handover at home and planning a return to one’s day job. The book encourages long-term planning, and there are appendixes that include fillable forms and a list for further reading. VERDICT A must-have resource for expecting or new working moms. This title is heavy on information about nearly every possible scenario faced by mothers transitioning in and out of the workplace after a pregnancy.