A mum of six from Canterbury is finally seeing a twenty-year publishing dream come true thanks to her eldest son and youngest daughter. Tracy Quinton-Rose, who’s 62, wrote We’re Going on a Christmas Hunt when she was working as an early years’ practitioner at a local nursery.
Now, thanks to the publishing prowess of her son, Chip Colquhoun and the illustrating skills of her daughter…
There’s something quietly powerful about giving a book at Christmas. As Anna Quindlen once said,“Books are the plane, the train, and the road. They are the destination and the journey.”A good book doesn’t just fill a stocking; it invites someone into a new world, a fresh idea or a story they didn’t know they needed.
This year, we’re shining a light on the writers who…
As a writer, an editor and a lifelong screen addict, my eyes have always worked overtime. Add post-menopause into the mix – and the fact that I practically live on my laptop – and the outcome was inevitable: constant redness, grittiness, tears that never quite moisturised, and contact lenses that suddenly felt like sandpaper. I’ve said it before in London Mums: my eyes simply haven’t been…
If your Christmas list includes someone who desperately needs a laugh (and frankly, who doesn’t in December?), Quiet Please! and Other Humorous Tales by Denise Dumont may be the most delightful little stocking filler you didn’t realise you needed. It arrives with all the charm of a hand-written Christmas card and the warm glow of a well-brewed cuppa, bringing together twenty light-hearted…
If you’ve popped into the West End lately, you’ll know London is deep in the grip of Paddington mania. With Paddington: The Musical now officially opened in London, children are suddenly requesting duffle coats, parents are whispering “please be gentle” at bus stops, and more than one London Mum has admitted to Googling “marmalade stain removal tips”. So, in the true spirit of festive…
As we head into the festive season, I’m delighted to share a thoughtful piece from one of our beloved London Mums contributors, Julia Minchin, CEO of Hippychick. Julia has been championing sustainable parenting long before it became a trend, and this year she brings us a timely reflection on the growing shift towards preloved gifting – a movement we’re seeing resonate strongly with…
If you’re on the lookout for a quirky new read to spark your child’s imagination, London Irish author John Hughes has something rather special up his sleeve. His latest children’s novel, Things You Didn’t Know About Chimneys, is already drawing comparisons to the mischievous magic of Roald Dahl.
The story follows ten-year-old Millie, who finds herself dispatched to the…
Choosing the right place to live later in life is a big decision, especially if you’re aiming for comfort, security, and a calm pace of living. A close-knit park community offers the kind of setting where you can enjoy simple routines, friendly faces, and a home that’s easy to look after.
Many people find that this style of living brings a sense of balance that’s hard to achieve in busy…
A R Trent’s The Recyclosaurus and EggBangers invites young readers to step into LA-LA Forest Park for an unforgettable eco-adventure. When young Ed Williams gets lost, he discovers a secret world of homeless wild animals, a runaway stray dog, and a wise old crow – all debating who’s to blame for the planet’s climate crisis. Along the way, Ed befriends EggBanger, Little Bro, and learns…
If there’s one thing mums can rely on in December, it’s this: the fairy lights go up, and so does the pressure. The cost-of-living crisis hasn’t exactly taken early retirement, and plenty of us are attempting five-star festive magic on a budget that wouldn’t buy a Pret latte and a mince pie. Add the annual game of “keeping up with the Joneses” – which in London is more like…