Motherly Wisdom for Young Readers: A New Spin on Age-Old Wisdom

Katie Fitzgerald reviews Did Your Mother Ever Tell You?, the debut picture book by Babs Costello from social media's @BrunchwithBabs. 

Did Your Mother Ever Tell You? 

By Barbara "Babs" Costello

Published by Zonderkids

Did Your Mother Ever Tell You? is the debut picture book by Instagram personality Babs Costello, better known on the internet as @BrunchwithBabs. Babs draws on her experiences as mother of four, grandmother of nine, and preschool teacher for more than 25 years in creating this book for young readers. The title revolves around a popular catchphrase from her social media channels, which encourages her audience to remember and respect their own mothers.

This sweet, eye-catching book collects phrases most of us have been hearing since childhood and expands upon them, putting a new spin on age-old wisdom for a new generation. Instead of “hold your horses,” Babs suggests that there are times when it’s perfectly appropriate to “let your horses run” to express excitement over something we love. Babs reminds us that sometimes “you catch more flies with honey,” but that it’s also okay to stand up for ourselves when we’re not being treated fairly.

Each of seven phrases is given a four-page explanation in rhyme that acknowledges its original meaning and explores new ways to think about advice that has been handed down for generations.

Perfect for Catholic Preschoolers

This book is published by Zonderkids, which is a Christian publisher, but there isn’t much religious content in the text itself. There is one depiction of a child (and several horses) meditating in a yoga pose, which some Catholic parents may find objectionable, but the rest of the illustrations by Margeaux Lucas are wholesome, whimsical portrayals of kids with family, friends, and the occasional fantastical creature. There is certainly nothing in the text contrary to Church teaching, and I happily shared the book with all five of my children.

Did Your Mother Ever Tell You? is a warm, welcoming invitation into cozy conversation about what it takes to grow up happy, healthy, and well-adjusted. With Mother’s Day around the corner, this book is a timely opportunity for preschool and early elementary readers to appreciate and celebrate motherhood. I would recommend it for ages 4 to 7, and especially for moms and grandmas to read aloud with the little ones in their lives.

Ask for Did Your Mother Ever Tell You? at your local bookseller, or order online from Amazon.com.

Hear from the Author of this New Book on the Catholic Momcast

Babs recently joined us on the Catholic Momcast to talk about her unexpected second act and her sweet new children’s book, Did Your Mother Ever Tell You?, a gentle, updated take on the sayings many of us grew up hearing. 

To listen to this podcast, simply hit "play" above, or subscribe in iTunes, Google Podcasts, or Spotify.

Is this a book you'd like to read? Share your thoughts with the Catholic Mom community! You'll find the comment box below the author's bio and list of recommended articles.

Copyright 2026 Katie Fitzgerald
Images: (top) detail from interior illustration