Book Recommendations for Cool MoMs & Dads
Best New Release Books for Parents
Whether you’re the parent who always knows the best local coffee spot or the one hosting the most talked-about backyard hangouts, your reading list should be just as sharp as your social life.
At Bookfinity, we know that being a Cool Mom or Cool Dad means your identity doesn't start or stop at the diaper bag. That’s why we’ve curated a collection that moves beyond traditional parenting advice.
Interested in buzzy new releases that make life better? In our monthly roundup of curated new releases, you'll find sharp memoirs, gripping thrillers and fresh perspectives that are worth sharing with your social circle.
New Releases May 2026:
Walk: Rediscover the Most Natural Way to Boost Your Health and Longevity--One Step at a Time
by Courtney Conley - Milica McDowell
Discover the new rules of walking to increase your health, longevity and overall well-being from two go-to experts.
"A surprisingly interesting, thought-provoking and practical read. Walk is about much more than counting your steps -- it's about enriching your life. This book does for walking what Breath did for breathing." -- Adam Grant, #1 New York Times bestselling author
Did you know...
- Your risk of falls and overall longevity can be measured by your foot health
- Your walking speed can predict your overall health status and risk of early death
- Increasing your walking cadence has been shown to help reduce knee, hip, and lower back pain
- The number of daily optimal steps is not 10,000 (spoiler alert: it's fewer!)
What James Nestor did for breathing, Christopher McDougall and Mark Cucuzzella did for running, and Kelly and Juliet Starrett have done for mobility, founder of Gait Happens Dr. Courtney Conley and Dr. Milica McDowell do for walking.
Walking is as important to our health and longevity as sleep and proper breathing; it is the 6th vital sign. And yet we've almost engineered it out of our lives. Walk is an expert-driven, science-backed guide that not only underscores the power of movement to just about every aspect of our life, it restores walking to its rightful spot as one of the key pillars of health.
With the most up-to-date research, self-assessments, tips on choosing the best shoes for foot health, as well as easy movement snacks to help with low back pain and foot pain, and customizable programs to develop or enhance your own fitness, Walk is *the* definitive guide to optimizing wellness.
Mahjong: The Chinese Game of Tiles and Tactics
by Joseph Brant - Xueting C Ni
A pocket flexibound guide with 100 illustrations and photographs, Mahjong will fascinate anyone interested in one of the world's most widely-played games.
The clickety-clack of mahjong tiles being mixed by a group of friends is one of the most soothing and distinctive sounds found across East Asia and, increasingly, North America. First developed in southern China in the early 19th century, mahjong - meaning 'sparrow' - is a fun and popular game that tasks you with solving a tile-matching puzzle before you run out of moves.
Played by four people using 144 tiles, mahjong is not just a game of luck; it requires strategy, pattern recognition, and an understanding of the other players' tactics. Mahjong introduces this highly engaging and competitive game, which helps develop concentration and mental agility while at the same time building relationships and a sense of community.
The book is divided into chapters designed for the beginner, offering a brief background history, with introductions to the tiles, rules, playing the game, and popular variants and competitions. Find out how to shuffle and stack tiles to start the game; learn the difference between a kong and a pong and how this can win you points; understand the significance of the honor tiles, including the four winds and the three colored dragons; and find out what 'winning from the wall' means to complete a 'legal hand'.
21 Days to Learn to Crochet Amigurumi: Daily Practice, Step-By-Step Instructions, 7 Projects
by Émilie Penou
Build skills and create seven adorable crochet friends in 21 days!
By alternating learning with hands-on projects, this approach helps you master essential crochet techniques, especially those used in amigurumi. You'll quickly gain confidence with single crochet, increases and decreases, the magic ring, stitch markers, working in front and back loops, color changes, half-double and double crochet, invisible decreases, and fun stitches like loops and popcorn.
While building these skills, you'll create seven charming amigurumi: Camilla and Kyle with their campfire and logs, Sally the squirrel, Teddy Tree, Sheila the sheep, Bradley the bear, and a bonus mushroom house. With clear, illustrated step-by-step tutorials and expert tips, you'll make rapid progress and be ready to tackle any amigurumi project with confidence.
- Make seven cute amigurumi in 21 days while building your crochet skills
- Strengthen muscle memory with daily practice and easy-to-follow techniques
- Become a crochet master with a proven formula: two days of lessons, one day of guided practice, and one day for finishing touches
The Company We Keep: Friendship, Connection, and Redefining What It Means to Grow Together
by Alexandra Elle
"In a time of increasing loneliness, this book provides a steady guide, teaching us how to foster closeness, show up intentionally, and genuinely care for the people in our lives." -- Nedra Glover Tawwab, author of Set Boundaries, Find Peace
From New York Times bestselling author Alexandra Elle comes a vulnerable exploration of the friendships that shape us, stretch us, and sometimes wound us. With her trademark wisdom and storytelling, Alex invites us not only to celebrate but to examine the relationships in our lives, from the ones that matter most to those we should re-evaluate.
This book offers hard-won wisdom on:
- Recognizing when people-pleasing and self-silencing have become a pattern.
- Understanding that honesty--while sometimes painful--is a bridge to real intimacy or necessary endings.
- Letting go of the belief that we earn love by shrinking ourselves.
- Honor the sacred friendships that restore and heal us.
The Company We Keep offers readers permission to evolve in their friendships and reminds us that the people we surround ourselves with are not only mirrors, but key companions on the lifelong journey of healing, self-trust, and belonging. Alex shares her unflinching journey of learning to stop abandoning herself in the name of loyalty, to take ownership of the energy she brought into relationships, and to tell the truth--even when it cost her comfort. The Company We Keep is not just about cultivating our most meaningful friendships--it's about becoming a better friend to ourselves first.
Visit us next month for more new releases curated just for you by our in-house editorial team and book lovers.