Lodelump and the Heavy Day — The First Tale of Whimblewick
I’m so happy to finally be able to share this with you — the very first book in my Whimblewick Tales series, Lodelump and the Heavy Day, is now out in the world!
These stories have been a dream of mine for such a long time. The whole series is designed to help parents, carers, and children talk about the harder emotions — things like mental health, big feelings, and neurodivergence — in a calm, gentle way. Along the way, I’ve woven in practical little self-regulation ideas that children (and grown-ups!) can use in real life.
I wanted to create this series because I’ve never quite found anything like it — and I know that as a child, I would have loved stories that made these topics feel less scary and more understood.
In Whimblewick, each character has their own role in the life of the island. Lodelump, for example, is the librarian and book restorer. He also lives with depression. In this first story, I describe him as having a “heavy day” — a child-friendly way to talk about the days when things just feel harder. Thistlewhim, the island’s gentle caretaker, meets him where he’s at, offering kindness without trying to “fix” him.
I’ve also tucked little activities into the stories — for example, in this one you can make your own sunlight jar to fill with things that make you smile or feel grateful. It’s something children can keep and revisit whenever they need a little light. And, because I’ve always adored a good story map, there’s a map of Whimblewick right at the start and end of the book so you can explore alongside the characters.
While these books are perfect for parents and carers to read with their children, I also think they’ll feel right at home in classrooms and therapy spaces. They offer comfort and validation for children who might be going through something similar, and a gentle way for others to understand and empathise.
This series has been bubbling away in my mind for a long time. Thistlewhim actually started life as a simple character design exercise — but I quickly realised he was the perfect guide for the stories I wanted to tell. Since then, I’ve been happily building the world of Whimblewick, and I already have nine books planned (and plenty more ideas waiting their turn).
📚 You can find Lodelump and the Heavy Day now on Amazon in paperback and Kindle. Buy the book
Over to you:
What does a “heavy day” look like for you?
And what emotions would you like to see in future Whimblewick Tales?