The Spider in the Wing Mirror

Just published January 2026 – early readers like you help other families discover Sam’s story. Your thoughts matter.Every summer, Sam the spider knows exactly where he will be.When the same blue car leaves London at the start of the school holidays, Sam’s whole year falls neatly into place. From his spot in the wing mirror, he looks forward to visiting his spider cousins across Europe. Henri in Paris. Greta in Bavaria. Jem in Brussels. The timing is always perfect.Until this year.This summer brings new rules at the border. Long queues that stretch for hours. Delays no one expected. A storm the family hoped to outrun, but could not. One by one, Sam watches his carefully planned meetings slip away. One by one, his cousins have to leave before he arrives.Sam did not choose these changes. Neither did Lily, the little girl in the back seat who whispers good luck to him each year. Neither did her brother, or Mum, or Dad. But they are all living with the consequences.Told with warmth and gentle humour, The Spider in the Wing Mirror is a thoughtful picture book about change, disappointment, and learning to keep going when the rules shift without warning. Through Sam’s eyes, children explore what it feels like when plans fall apart for reasons that are hard to understand, and how friendship and hope can survive even when journeys become more difficult.This is a story about borders that suddenly feel harder to cross, about small voices that are rarely asked, and about the quiet courage it takes to keep trying, even when the world makes things complicated.More about this book:Large format illustrated picture bookFull colour artwork throughoutSuitable for ages 4 upwardsWritten for shared reading and discussionA gentle story about change, resilience, and friendshipExplores themes of travel, borders, and adapting to new rulesIdeal for families, classrooms, and thoughtful conversationsWhy this book resonatesParents and educators will recognise this as a story that helps children talk about real changes in the world in a safe, approachable way. It offers empathy, reassurance, and space for questions, without easy answers or blame.The Spider in the Wing Mirror is a book for children who are learning that not everything works the way it used to, and that connection, kindness, and persistence still matter.