2023 Mother's Day Gift Guide
26 Apr 2023 | Hardie Grant Publishing
Give mum a book she'll love this mother's day
When browsing for a loved one, there are just so many options, carefully-crafted blurbs, beautiful covers upon covers, online and in-store. So how does one choose?
As publishers we make books that reflect the imprimatur (a nice word publishers use to indicate their endorsement of or choice to publish a book) of our house. At Hardie Grant Books and Explore, this includes good design, finger-on-the-pulse publishing, diverse representation, working with experts and accessibility. The book and author we publish, is always considered in context of the rest of the books in its genre.
So come this Mother's Day, our gift guide is going to help you understand what to look for, how to differentiate, what makes something stand out in its category. Based on the insights of our own in-house experts, our publishers. Mum'll thank you later.
FOOD & DRINK
Our food and drink books are characterised by working with the best talent: intriguing authors that really have something to say in their speciality area. Anyone can google a recipe, so when we publish these books, we are really thinking about the author’s story and inspiration and how to curate a design for that story. So the Hardie Grant cook book you have will always have a certain depth to it, while still being accessible, looks great for a gift or coffee table and ultimately, is a conversation starter.
Sweet Enough
The perfect gift if your mum doesn’t always have time to cook but still wants to enjoy showstopping dishes.
From New York Times bestselling cookbook author Alison Roman comes the biggest baking book of the year. This is a dessert book for people who don’t do dessert. It’s for the once-a-year bakers, the twice-a-week cake makers, packed with approachable and creative desserts recipes that will satisfy any sweet tooth.
COOK: The Only Book You Need in the Kitchen
If your mum only owns one cookbook, let it be the one that even has Yotam Ottolenghi fan-boying. For acclaimed chef Karen Martini, COOK is her most comprehensive cookbook yet. In this word-of-mouth hit collection of more than 1000 recipes, she shares a lifetime of cooking, eating and learning about food.
Whether you’re wanting a midweek mushroom ragu, found a tonne of leeks on special at the market, want to how to make a golden chicken stock, or impress friends with a signature spread featuring Moroccan cuisine, Cook’s recipes will get you rave reviews and elevated eating.
From Salt to Jam
From Good Food columnist Katrina Meynink comes a celebration of condiments and seasonings that will take your cooking from meh to yeah. She’s the queen of bang-for-buck, easy cooking. No fancy lights and studios here.
Make just one condiment, such as the crowd-pleasing Chicken Salt, versatile Olive Tapenade or Harissa nights and unlock over 7 flavour-packed meals with each one. Genius!
Lune: Croissants All Day, All Night
If your mum is as obsessed with Lune Croissantarie as we are, bring the magic of that buttery goodness straight to her kitchen with this debut cookbook from croissant aficionado, Kate Reid.
Featuring step-by-step techniques for making croissants from scratch, not to mention show-stopping photography of the pasty-making process, this is one cookbook that’s sure to impress.
Strong, Sweet and Bitter
From the host of the popular YouTube series 'Behind the Bar' comes a debut cocktail recipe book that dives into the fundamental 'Flavour Triangle' of drink mixing—something strong, something sweet and something bitter. This bartender really wants you to learn the formula for a perfect cocktail.
Expect loads of helpful insights, from the science of ingredients and equipment to fun facts about the history of each drink. Whether mum is a novice drink mixer or experienced bartender, this book has a recipe to match all moods and tastes.
NON-FICTION
Our non-fiction can be defined as being accessible, lifting the curtain on stories and perspectives that have not always been told. We want to shine a spotlight on different elements of Australian culture and identity and tell stories that resonate because they are important and offer perspectives that move the conversation needle forward
How to Age Against the Machine
Equip your mum with this essential reading for women over 40. Think ‘What to expect when you’re expecting’ but for ageing instead of pregnancy. Authors Melissa Doyle and Naima Brown have collated a stellar line up of female voices such as Tina Arena and Julie Bishop, tackling everything from relationships and work, to appearance, money and menopause.
It provides practical inspiration for women to age with meaning and purpose in the second half of their lives.
A Joyful Life
Rosemary Kariuki is a survivor like no other. Awarded Australian of the Year – Local Hero in 2021, Rosemary’s fierce warmth and endless empathy teaches us how to overcome adversity and strive to choose joy above everything else.
From her tough childhood in Kenya facing tribal clashes, to working with the NSW police to help fellow migrant women, Rosemary’s story is certain to leave mum feeling inspired.
Jimmy Little: A Yorta Yorta Man
If your mum is a music buff, introduce her to Australia’s first Aboriginal pop star. Jimmy Little was one of Australia’s most acclaimed pop and country music legends, performing alongside the likes of Kylie Minogue, Olivia Newton-John and Bruce Springsteen.
Written by his daughter, this biography recounts Jimmy's inspiring ascent to stardom. Trust us when we say, it’s a story that every Australian music fan should know.
Watch one of his famous performances here.
LIFESTYLE
These gorgeous lifestyle titles push our exemplary look and feel: from design to finishes. Featuring global and local powerhouses like the bestselling Natalie Walton and garden icon Michael McCoy, these books offer glimpses into the very best spaces, places and lives, to help you inform your own, where every cover, hopefully, is a work of art.
Home by the Sea
Let mum peak inside the homes of Byron Bay's creative community in the latest interior design book from bestselling author Natalie Walton.
Explore 18 inspiring homes and meet creative souls ranging from fashion designers and architects to herbalists and furniture makers, each living intentionally in their beautiful coastal town.
Dream Gardens
If your mum has got a green thumb, this beautifully photographed book showcases 12 gorgeous yet functional gardens across Australia that proves great design can always find a solution to the garden owner’s needs.
Use it for inspiration or impress with it on the coffee table, this is one book that mum is sure to love.
TRAVEL
We think a hardworking travel book is one that’s as at home proudly displayed on the coffee table as it is thrown in the glove box to help plan your adventures. Cue the bestselling Ultimate series, a collection of practical travel guides in a beautiful package, written by some of Australia’s top travel experts in their niche.
Explore the latest titles in the series.
