As an American nanny, I found “State of the Nanny” by Australian Louise Dunham to be a refreshing and unvarnished look at our field — from someone who truly understands it. With decades of experience in the industry, Louise Dunham lays out both the triumphs and struggles of modern nannying with clarity and conviction. As […]
“A Gate at the Stairs” by Lorrie Moore – From A Nanny’s Perspective
August 30, 2025 Leave a Comment
“A Gate at the Stairs” by Lorrie Moore is a fiction novel. The main character is Tassie, a college student moonlighting as a nanny, that stumbles into the emotional minefield of modern parenthood, racial politics, and unspoken grief — all while trying to wrangle a toddler and find herself. At first, as a nanny myself, […]
“Nanny Basics and Beyond: What I Wish I Had Known All Along” by Marcia Hall
August 23, 2025 1 Comment
As a nanny and family assistant with over three decades of experience, I’m always on the lookout for resources that both affirm the value of what I do and help me grow in my roles. “Nanny Basics and Beyond: What I Wish I Had Known All Along” by Marcia Hall does exactly that — and more. […]
Why Every Nanny Should Read, “The Case for Cuddles” by Kirsty Bennett
August 9, 2025 Leave a Comment
“The Case for Cuddles,” written by a British Maternity Nurse, is a book title that makes you want to put the kettle on and wrap yourself in a fleecy throw before you’ve even opened the cover. Kirsty Bennett has gifted nannies and parents with a book that argues what we’ve known since the days of […]
“Nanny Knows Best: The History of the British Nanny” by Katherine Holden
August 2, 2025 Leave a Comment
“Nanny Knows Best” by Katherine Holden is not a how-to manual for nannies. This book is about British history. Katherine Holden’s book is an exploration of the British nanny as a cultural institution — equal parts moral compass, parental substitute, and Victorian child-wrangler extraordinaire. “Nanny Knows Best” charts the evolution of the British nanny from the […]
“Women’s Work” by Megan K. Stack — From A Nanny’s Perspective
July 26, 2025 Leave a Comment
As a nanny who has already spent three decades helping raise other people’s children, “Women’s Work” by Megan K. Stack hit me in a deeply personal place. This book is not a comforting celebration of modern motherhood; it’s a raw, honest look at the hidden cost of women’s professional ambition. The author is a former […]
“Such a Fun Age” by Kiley Reid – From A Nanny’s Perspective
July 19, 2025 Leave a Comment
Unlike the other books written by nannies, or about nannies, I’ve been reading this summer, “Such a Fun Age” by Kiley Reid is a fiction novel and New York Times best seller. “Such a Fun Age” follows Emira Tucker, a 25-year-old Black woman who babysits for Alix Chamberlain, a wealthy white influencer-mom who is progressive […]
“The Little Princesses” by Marion Crawford – From a Nanny’s Perspective
July 12, 2025 Leave a Comment
Working a nanny myself, I felt professional resonance reading, “The Little Princesses” by Marion Crawford. Reviewing “The Little Princesses” as a nanny is more than a dip into royal life — it’s an affirmation of the invisible, steady influence caregivers have on the next generation. Crawford’s role as a governess mirrors the emotional and practical […]
“Mothercoin: The Stories of Immigrant Nannies” by Elizabeth Cummins — From A Nanny’s Perspective
July 5, 2025 Leave a Comment
“Mothercoin: The Stories of Immigrant Nannies” is not a comforting read — but if you’re an immigrant in America it will be a validating one. Elizabeth Cummins Muñoz has written the book I didn’t know I was waiting for: a rich, unflinching exploration of the women behind America’s well-raised children, cleaned homes, and free time […]
Review of “Wanted: Toddler’s Personal Assistant: How Nannying For the 1% Taught Me About the Myths of Equality, Motherhood, and Upward Mobility in America” by Stephanie Kiser
June 28, 2025 Leave a Comment
I am reading as many books written by nannies or about nannies as I can this summer. Stephanie Kiser is a former nanny who worked for affluent families on Manhattan’s Upper East Side who wrote the memoir, “Wanted: Toddler’s Personal Assistant. How Nannying For the 1% Taught Me About the Myths of Equality, Motherhood, and […]
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