Author and now independent publisher, Kate Claxton, 33 of North Swindon initially wrote her debut ‘My Mum’s a Tiger’ as a keepsake for her daughter’s first birthday, but once the book started to attract attention on Instagram she decided to share it with the world.
The 32 page rhyming story, brought to life by illustrator Angela Mayers, tells the story of a little girl who can’t wait to tell everyone she meets that her mum is a tiger. She doesn’t have a tail or paws with sharp claws, but she does have stripes!
Based on Kate’s own experience, this is a beautiful introduction to body positivity for young children, “Like many people, women especially, I’ve always been self conscious of my body and the ways it looks different to those we’re shown in advertising campaigns. During pregnancy my body changed even more when I developed stretch marks.
Initially I was really disappointed after spending (too much) money on lotions and oils to avoid them. As soon as my daughter was born though, these shimmering lines across my tummy took on a new meaning. A permanent reminder that I was lucky enough to grow new life, to carry a whole new person into the world. My own tiger stripes!”
With a picture book packed full of animal print and jungle inspired fashion and interiors, Kate is keen to inspire other parents and their impressionable little readers that we should embrace our spots and stripes.
“I’m a big animal print fan and that’s had an impact not only on Angela’s beautiful illustra- tions but the story itself. We go wild for the spots and stripes of leopard and zebra print patterns, but expect our own skin to be pristine and blemish free. The book looks at a few different wild animals and their markings and encourages children to be more like these creatures and embrace their differences with pride.”
On sale now, My Mum’s a Tiger is available to buy through Kate’s publishing website reallyratherwild.com and locally in Oink Gallery in Old Town, Swindon’s Central Library Shop and Little B’s in Devizes.
