With humour, insight and honesty, movie critic Mary Pols describes the compromises, love and learning she has found as an “accidental” mother — and a life suddenly full of purpose and joy.

This is a comprehensive guide for single women interested in proactively becoming and being a mother. The book provides support and insight as well as practical tools and information on decision-making, adoption, fertility and conception, single-parenting and much more.

A Day with Dad. Bo Holmberg, illustrated by Eva Eriksson, $17.50

A tender portrait of a day spent together.

A Father Like That. Charlotte Zolotow, illustrated by LeUyen Pham, $22.50 ages 3-8

A boy knows all about fathers. He knows there are little things a father understands, like how to play checkers and when to bend the rules at bedtime. And he knows there are big things a father does, like banishing nightmares and spending special time with his son. Even if he doesn't have a father, a boy can imagine one just like that.

The Guide for Separated Parents: Putting Your Children First.  Karen & Nick Woodall, $16.95

Putting Your Children First helps mothers and fathers unlock and resolve the conflict around contact with children that can arise during and after separation. Using strategies such as parenting plans, scripted phone calls and parenting meetings, the book will enable parents to communicate effectively on all the most important things in their children's lives — and make relaxed arrangements for the continued involvement by both parents with their children.

The Long-Distance Dad: How You Can Be There for Your Child — Whether Divorced, Deployed or on the Road. Steven Ashley, $15.95

You can't always be there physically for your children-but that doesn't mean you can't be a good dad. Steven Ashley shows you how to remain an important part of your child's life-no matter how far apart you are. Whether you're divorced, constantly traveling for work, or deployed overseas, The Long-Distance Dad can help. This practical handbook addresses all the inherent problems of long-distance parenting and teaches you how to:

• Use technology to stay in touch
• Establish relationships with teachers, coaches, and counselors
• Take an active role in homework, school projects, and outside activities
• Make the most of vacations and holidays
• And much more

Completely revised and updated the 2nd edition of Positive Discipline for Single Parents delivers a clear-eyed, common-sense approach to single-parenting. Positive Discipline for Single Parents dispels the myths of single parenthood and offers practical, positive strategies for everything from self-care to discipline to respectful co-parenting. Being a single parent brings unique challenges to the most important job of your life - raising a child who is responsible, respectful, and resourceful. This book can help make those challenges easier and even the most overwhelming moments more meaningful.

The Practical Guide to Weekend Parenting. Doug Hewitt, $22.95

“Whether you are divorced, separated, or simply working during the week, it's getting harder and harder to have one-on-one time with your children, much less plan for weekend play-time. Instead of turning on the television and walking away, there's now an easy way to take charge and teach, strengthen your parent-child ties, and have fun with your kids, and all at the same time.”

In Single By Chance, Mothers by Choice, Rosanna Hertz offers a discerning look at this fast-growing phenomenon, revealing why so many women are taking this unorthodox path and how they manage to make ‘single parenthood by choice’ work for them. They tell how their personal and social histories intersected to enable them to pursue their dream of motherhood, and how they navigate daily life. A unique window on the future of the family, this book offers a gold mine of insight and reassurance for any woman contemplating this rewarding if unconventional step.

The Single Mother's Book: a Practical Guide to Managing your Children, Career, Home, Finances and Everything Else. Joan Anderson, $20.95

A sensible, up-beat and unpretentious guide to managing life as a single mother. The new edition of this popular and comprehensive book offers thoughtful and practical answers to real-life situations, including:

• Managing finances, building credit, taxes, insurance, affording your own home, saving for retirement…
• Legal concerns like wills, separation, divorce and custody issues…
• Safety in the home, personal health and safety, emotional well-being…
• Finding support and resources…
• Parenting, co-parenting, dating, blended families…

The Single Mother's Guide to Raising Remarkable Boys. Gina Panettieri with Philip S. Hall, $18.95

As a single mother to a growing son, you take on many roles: coach, chef, cheerleader, buddy, housekeeper, teacher, disciplinarian, and nurturer. The Single Mother's Guide to Raising Remarkable Boys helps you juggle all these roles with aplomb. You'll also learn how to help your son:

• Succeed at school
• Find an appropriate male role model
• Socialize and combat peer pressure
• Deal with sex, drugs, and video games

Complete with resources and recommended strategies for every stage of a boy's life, The Single Mother's Guide to Raising Remarkable Boys helps you go it alone — and raise a happy, healthy, well-adjusted young man.