My new book: “The Story of Jessie's Milkies”—OUT NOW
I'm delighted to announce the release of my new book, "The Story of Jessie's Milkies," created with the talented illustrations of Jojo Ford.
In writing this book, I wanted to create an engaging and empowering story that explores possible endings to nursing, helping families navigate the end of their breastfeeding relationship. I know that breastfeeding ends differently for every family, and I wanted to acknowledge that reality and create a book that can work for lots of different scenarios.
The story follows three-year-old Jessie, an enthusiastic nurser who loves breastfeeding. I explore three different weaning journeys:
“For us, it was such a lovely way to just start introducing the idea that boob will end one day, and it was so easy to swap our breastfeeding language into it.”
Parent-led weaning, where Jessie's mama is getting tired and it's time to say goodbye to milkies
Self-weaning, as Jessie's attachment to breastfeeding gradually fades
Tandem feeding, where Jessie will share his milk with a new baby on the way
“What a brilliant book! A one of a kind, honest portrayal of breastfeeding and weaning journeys. Thank you for validating and articulating the myriad of emotions that come with any weaning journey”
Throughout the book, I discuss emotions honestly and compassionately. My aim was to create a joyful and loving picture book that serves as a support for mothers and parents who are looking to stop breastfeeding or establish boundaries, helping families make changes in emotionally supportive and authentic ways.
"The Story of Jessie's Milkies" is available now on Amazon. In the UK, you can buy it from The Children’s Bookshop in Muswell Hill, London. You can ask your local bookshop (who can source it from IngramSpark publishing), or why not get your local library to order it.
“ I love how it beautifully captures the raw emotions of weaning for both the child and parent. The varied experiences and circumstances may differ, yet the core themes of love, loss, and gentle transition remain universal and touching.
Its interactive nature is especially engaging, making it particularly appealing to the toddler+ age range. I also appreciate the delightful details, such as Jesse’s fascination with zips, his joy at toast popping out of the toaster, and the tidbits about elephants eating bananas—it’s evident that it’s designed with the unique wonder of toddlers in mind.”