If you’re a mother in a children’s book it likely means one or both of the following: (a.) you’re horribly dysfunctional, or (b.) you’re dead. So with Mother’s Day approaching (on Sunday 11 May), here are some mothers who not only made it out of the book alive, but with more than a shred of dignity.

1. Mrs Josephine Rabbit in The Tale of Peter Rabbit

What I love about Mrs Rabbit is her consistency. She warns Peter about the dangers of Mr McGregor’s garden and when he disobeys her, she follows through with a fitting punishment. But she is also kind and doesn’t harp on about it too much. Props to Mrs R.

2. Ferdinand’s mum in The Story of Ferdinand

It can be difficult to create that balance between encouraging your children to ‘run and play with the other little bulls’ and recognising that what might look like extreme anti-social behaviour is simply individuality. But if a cow can do it, so can we.

3. Mrs Murry in A Wrinkle In Time

A great example of someone who is holding it together. Intellectual, aware of her potential impact on her children, she keeps hope alive and the home fires burning while her husband has disappeared into the wrinkle in time that they created. A classy act.

4. Mrs Yelnats in Holes

For years she’s supported her husband’s failed attempts to be an inventor and now her son, Stanley, has been sent to a juvenile correctional facility. But Mrs Yelnats stays positive and refuses to give in to the so-called family curse. You can tell she’s a good mum through Stanley, who writes to her and even twists the truth so that she won’t worry about him. Go Mrs Yelnats!

5. Scarlett in A Greyhound of a Girl

A young girl struggles with the concept of losing a grandmother she loves. Along comes a ghost to show the way, and making up the fourth wheel of this generational road-trip is Scarlett, the mother who is losing a mother while caring for a daughter. Loving and enthusiastic.

6. Molly Weasley in the Harry Potter series

Come on, you knew it was coming. We all love Molly. Respected and adored by all her children, who nevertheless run amok, but you can guarantee that she’ll be there magicking the living daylights out of anyone who threatens to harm them.

7. Mummy Pig in the Oliver Pig series

Oliver Pig and his sister are very sweet but rather annoying. Their mother is kind and patient, but also sends a good message to other mums out there when she first, hides up in a tree all afternoon where the children can’t reach her, and secondly goes away for a night for a mummy holiday. And so she should. (Also see: Peppa Pig’s mum.)

8. Mummy Bunny in The Runaway Bunny

When I told my mum I was running away from home, she offered to help pack my bags and look, that’s one way of doing it. The other way is to assure your child that wherever they go, you will hunt them down - in the nicest possible way - and then give them a carrot.

Emily Gale