Murmle and the Wobbly Day: Behind the Story

Have you ever had one of those days where everything just feels… a bit wobbly? That’s exactly what my second book in the Wimblewick Tales series, Murmle and the Wobbly Day, is all about.

Murmle is Wimblewick’s cartographer — he’s kind, curious, and just a little on the anxious side. In this story, he’s getting ready to sell his maps in the local shop for the very first time, and the nerves (and a good dose of imposter syndrome) start to kick in. I don’t know about you, but I can definitely relate to that feeling — and I think most of us can, no matter how old we are or what we’re doing. That’s why I wanted to write this story: to gently explore anxiety and share some tools that can help when everything feels a bit wobbly.

I love the phrase “wobbly day” because it feels so universal. We’ve all had those days where we’re not quite ourselves — a bit unsteady, out of balance, or just… off. Murmle puts it like this: “My tummy is squirmy, my legs are wobbly, my chest feels tight and it’s hard to breathe.” As someone who lives with anxiety myself, I know exactly what that feels like. Honestly, if I’d had a book like this as a child, I think it would’ve helped me feel less alone.

When I was writing, I wanted to describe those wobbly feelings in a way that would click with children. I always start my books with a timeline to get the shape of the story, and then I weave in the details. Since Wimblewick is a place deeply connected to nature, I had Thistlewhim use a feather dancing in his fingers as a breathing focus for Murmle. I also had fun letting Thistlewhim’s personality shine a bit more in this story, especially through his gentle interactions with the woodland creatures. The trickiest bit? Definitely the double-page illustrations — making sure the artwork flows across the centre without losing the details can be a real puzzle!

What I hope readers take away is simple: it’s okay to have wobbly days. You’re not alone. And there are small, gentle ways to find calm again. Just like in my first book, there are some activities at the back that children can try with a trusted grown-up. I’d love to think this story might spark conversations at bedtime, in classrooms, or even in therapy settings.

I feel so grateful to be able to share these little stories with you — and even more grateful that you’re here, reading along and caring about mental wellbeing for children. If you’d like to explore Murmle and the Wobbly Day (or the wider Wimblewick Tales world), you can find them here.

Over to you:

What helps you (or your child) through a wobbly day?