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FREE books for your school Shop
The Illustrated MumEnlarge cover

Suitable for 8 - 11 years

Format
Paperback
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Price: €10.39 Switch to £
gbp prices
Price: £7.99 Switch to €
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This item has 3 stars of a maximum 5

Rated 3/5 from 2 ratings

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Product description

Covered from head to foot with glorious tattoos, Marigold is the brightest, most beautiful mother in the world. Dolphin would do anything for her. She just wishes her beautiful mum wouldn’t stay out partying all night, or forget to buy food and pay the bills, or go weird now and then. Older sister Star isn’t so sure anymore. She loves Marigold too, but sometimes she just can’t help wishing things were more normal. And when Mum starts to fall apart, what should Dolphin do? Is her illustrated mum still in the picture? A humane and moving portrait of a child coming to terms with a parent’s mental illness, which derives its pathos from the gulf between Dolphin’s innocent view of the world and the reality of her mother’s plight.

Shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal.

Product Details

Catalogue number

2453 in Schools Catalogue 2023–24

Format

Paperback

ISBN

9780440867814

Accelerated Reader

AR book level: 4.0; Upper years; 9.0 points

Other details

  • 224 pages

Condition

New

UK edition

Available in these packs

Author/Illustrator

Jacqueline Wilson

Photo of Jacqueline Wilson

Jacqueline Wilson was born in Bath in 1945, but spent most of her childhood in Kingston-on-Thames. She always wanted to be a writer and wrote her first “novel” when she was nine, filling countless Woolworths’ exercise books as she grew up. Since having her daughter, Emma, she has been writing full time.

Her insightful and emotionally challenging books not only stretch reading ability, but give young readers a glimpse into many kinds of lives. Smart girls, strong girls, bad girls, brave girls. Girls keeping their families going, girls trying to get away… Jacqueline Wilson’s written about them all! These powerful stories of plucky girls in difficult circumstances won’t fail to strike a chord.

She has written over 70 best-selling books, and several have even been adapted for TV – most famously The Story of Tracy Beaker. Her signing sessions attract huge crowds of fans and last for hours! Over 25 million copies of her books have now been sold in the UK alone.

In 2007 Jacky Daydream was published, an inspirational true story of how a shy schoolgirl became a superstar author. This was followed by My Secret Diary, a captivating account of Jacky’s teenage years.

In June 2002 Jacqueline was given an OBE for services to literacy in schools, and she was the Children’s Laureate from 2005-2007. She also became a Dame in December 2007.

Nick Sharratt

Photo of Nick Sharratt

Nick Sharratt needs little introduction with books going down a storm time and time again. He has written and illustrated many books for children, and also enjoys great success illustrating books for Jacqueline Wilson and Jeremy Strong.

He was born in 1962 and trained at the St Martin’s School of Art. Inspired by 1960s pop and graphic art, his work is instantly recognisable for its bold images and punchy colours. With lots of moving tabs, flaps to lift and other interactive features, as well as exciting wordplay and cheeky humour, Nick’s books let children discover all the different ways in which books and words can work.

He lives and works in Brighton, in a studio overlooking the sea.

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What kids think

  1. Cyrilthecat
    on 23 March 2018

    The way Jacqueline Wilson has written this book is amazing! It is such a touching read!

    5out of 5

  2. Blossom-1
    on 6 September 2016

    This book is so good!

    5out of 5

  3. Potterfan7
    on 9 March 2014

    A good book for older readers, people who dont mind a twist and a turn sometimes

  4. Rumaitha12
    on 9 March 2014

    This book is really wierd but i still liked it.

  5. bee100xxx
    on 8 March 2014

    Dolphin would do anything for her mum but she just wishes she could look after her and her sister,Star more or at least HERSELF! None of them are sure they could keep this up anymore and Marigold is falling apart!

    5out of 5

  6. AngelofDeath
    on 8 March 2014

    Very intriguing and touching

  7. books2000
    on 8 March 2014

    its good

  8. Booklover0109
    on 5 March 2014

    This book is great for people who believe in happy endings.

    This book has lots of ups and downs.

    It was a lot of fu to read

    4out of 5

  9. queenie13
    on 8 March 2013

    i am reading it but love it so far

    5out of 5

  10. samcharlie123
    on 8 March 2013

    A good book, probably for older readers.

    5out of 5

  11. TwilightChick96
    on 8 March 2013

    I really loved this book.

  12. KarlMagic33
    on 8 March 2013

    Really Good!

  13. ellie-melay27
    on 7 March 2013

    really good book! i love jacqueline wilson a lot! she is one of my favourite authors. this book 6/5! it is sad in places but i love it ever so

  14. bugzy72
    on 7 March 2013

    its a good book

  15. pawprint2
    on 6 March 2013

    Another good read from jacky!!

    5out of 5

  16. Too-Amazayn
    on 5 March 2013

    JW’s knack for writting good books for kids shines here, bit sad, but enjoyable

    4out of 5

  17. lap312i
    on 4 March 2013

    this book was ok

  18. Sherlock25
    on 4 March 2013

    This is a great book on the troubles of having a mum who is a big kid at heart it really tugs at your heart strings and makes you feel for the characters and what they go through to try and be happy. highly recommended

  19. bouncybunny
    on 4 March 2013

    I enjoyed this book up untill star left dolphin I thought that was mean and horrible of her .I was glad when dolphin found her dad but was still a little bit upset because of what happend to her mum

  20. madistar23
    on 29 August 2012

    Although I may have read this a while ago, it was still an amazing story.

  21. AmyXx
    on 6 March 2012

    I loved this book so much!

  22. sweethart184
    on 2 March 2012

    a lovely book

  23. aeroaeromonkey
    on 2 March 2012

    Sooo good and sooooo realistic

    3out of 5

  24. kicky105
    on 1 March 2012

    Dolphin’s mum is covered in tattoos, but she slowly begins to fall apart, but can dolphin and her sister build Marigold back up?

  25. lids
    on 1 March 2012

    LOOOOOOVE JW BUT THIS WAS NOT HER BEST

  26. salimisra
    on 1 March 2012

    a faboulas book about a mad mom who has 2 daughters star and dolphin, they are very poor but wil lthey be able to survive?

    5out of 5

  27. SmileyJess
    on 11 November 2011

    Hmm, it was okay, not to keen on the story but yet, Jaqueline Wilson is a good writer :D

    3out of 5

  28. lovelaura
    on 2 November 2011

    i am a big fan of Jaqueline Wilson. I love all her books;however, this book was actually quite touching a down to earth, its about 2 sisters living a life of looking after their crazy mum. her mum acts like a 16 year old, full of tatoos and peircings and a 100000 crazy boyfreinds….

    i recommend this to girls from 10+. for girls who like to read about real life touching stories.

    5out of 5

  29. xSairax
    on 13 August 2011

    Sad at times, but it gets better. It’s like a real-life situation, and shows you how Dolphin really feels. I’m glad she has Olly as a friend.

    4out of 5

  30. ribena
    on 3 March 2011

    Loved this book but found it very sad. It made me think of a friend of mine whose family was very similar to this one. Brilliant story by a brilliant author.

    5out of 5

  31. gethi
    on 3 March 2011

    Very long book!

    5out of 5

  32. angel311
    on 3 March 2011

    This book is amazing! I love the author Jacqueline Wilson! She writes great books! I love the way the book ends!

    5out of 5