My Must-Have Mum

by | Jun 13, 2024 | Book Review, Picture Book

My Must-Have Mum cover

Book Details

My Must-Have Mum
Maudie Smith, illus. Jen Khatun. London: Lantana, hb, 978 1 91374 768 8, 2022, £11.99, 32pp.
Picture book, 3-8 years

Jake’s Mum just loves to make things out of the things that she finds left around.

She sees opportunity and treasure in the things that other people throw away. She even upscales things such as rusty cars and boats that are too big for them to take to their flat on the fourteenth floor.

But when Mr Price, their grumpy neighbour, says that Jake’s Mum would change everything in the world if she could, Jake begins to worry. He looks around the flat and sees that Mum has changed everything except one thing – him. Jake gets very upset and runs away only to be found by Mum who tells him that he is perfect just as he is and that she would never change him.

This is a delightful, heart-warming, award winning book from a publishing house who are proving to be a real tour de force in producing amazing picture books for young children which embody inclusion and diversity with ease. In this story Jake’s Mum is a wheelchair user, but there is never any reference made to this – this is inclusive writing at it’s best!

The simple, accessible story about unconditional love is complemented by bright, busy illustrations. This is an absolutely joyful read.

 

Review by Suzie A.