Jake’s mum is not like most mums. Say there's a skip in the street, most mums will pass right by without a second glance. Not Jake’s mum. “Look at this, Jake!” she'll shout. “We must have this! We must have this, too! And we simply must have this!” That’s Jake’s mum for you. She’s a must-have mum.

So when Jake’s mum upcycles every last thing in the apartment, Jake begins to worry that the only thing left to change is…him! Will Jake’s mum try to change him too?

A heart-warming story about the unbreakable bond between a mother and her son, and a little boy who learns that he is perfect just the way he is.

“My Must-Have Mum is an exciting, joyful uplifting book about the super special relationship between mother and son. Told from son Jake’s point of view, I love how much he adores his mum and her quirky habit of collecting and upcycling so many wonderful treasures. Utterly gorgeous!”

-My Book Corner

-Book Trust

"A heart-warming story that embraces diversity, environmental issues and unconditional love. Mum’s comforting words as Jake worries about her wanting to change him are so supportive and heartfelt - they are words that will reassure every child.” -Story Snug

-Nicola Davies, children's author

-Michelle Robinson, children’s author

Maudie Smith writes humorous and touching stories for children aged 2 to 12 including popular title, My Must-Have Mum. She has an MA in Writing for Young People and lives in a village near Bath. Jen Khatun is a children's book illustrator cosily living by the coast of East Sussex in the UK. Her work resonates the hidden magic in everyday life and the close bonds between people, nature, and memories.