GUEST BLOG MARY EPSOM

My guest this week is very, very special. Why? She’s just published her first book at the age of 94. That is amazing.

 

Mary Epsom is a Froebel Foundation trained teacher, who started a kindergarten in Nairobi, Kenya, and eventually owned and managed three more with a combined capacity of 400 pupils. She was a well-known teacher in Nairobi for many years and she knows how to make each chapter both interesting and educational.

“The Chameleon Who Went to the North Pole…Almost!”, is an excellent, 70 page, fully colour illustrated book, ideal for children aged 6 – 12 years.

This true story recounts the time in 1966 when Mary’s son Paul was a young child. As a typical Kenyan boy, Paul always had a snake in his pocket or a chameleon on his shoulder, and Mary’s delightful story tells how, on the flight to Europe on leave with the family, Mary saw to her horror, at 32,000 feet above the Sahara Desert, a chameleon walking across the back of Paul’s seat in front of her. There was no alternative but to bring the little chameleon, who Paul had named Mugia, along with them for the rest of the holiday. The book relates the stories of the family’s 17,000 mile journey through Europe, visiting nine countries as far as the Arctic Circle, as seen through Mugia’s eyes. The little chameleon proves to be helpful in getting the family through tricky situations, The book is both an enchanting memoir of a happy family holiday in Europe in the company of a charismatic little chameleon, and a nostalgic reminder of the freedom of travel in the days before airport security and border controls (and although Mugia was put into her own shoebox when the family went through customs, Mary strongly advises children not to try this trick today!)

At the end of the epic journey, Mugia returns safely to her Nairobi garden!

Paul died in a road accident in 2014 and “The Chameleon who went to the North Pole-¦almost!” is dedicated to him. With delightful colour illustrations by Samira Matthews, this makes a very special gift for children aged 6 – 12 years old.

It is available from https://store.bookbaby.com/book/the-chameleon-who-went-to-the-north-polealmost

It is also available via Amazon UK, (click on the cover above), Barnes and Noble, and several other online platforms. Most are offering free delivery.

Mary Epsom is an inspiration to all writers, it’s never too late to create a legacy to be proud of.  Thank you, Mary, for being my guest this week, it was an honour and an inspiration.

Lucinda