A South-West London author has reached almost 15,000 pupils with her children’s book ‘Jessie and JoJo’, marking three years since its publication. Denise Parker, known to schools as “Mrs P”, donates all book royalties to charity and gives her time freely to run workshops designed to support children’s wellbeing.
Since September 2022, Mrs P has visited 37 primary schools across South-West London and Surrey, reading her book and leading sessions on sharing worries, talking about feelings, building friendships, and embracing diversity. Her visits also include creative writing insights for older children and a light-hearted segment on kangaroos, inspired by the book’s characters.
All proceeds from Jessie and JoJo are donated to the NSPCC (UK) and WIRES (Australia). To date, more than £2,000 has been raised, with a further £2,000 pledged for end of September 2025.
Mrs P said: “Working as an ELSA and Drawing and Talking practitioner, I saw first-hand how important it is for children to have a safe space to express their feelings. Childhood today is very different to when I raised my three boys. With the pull of social media and screens, it’s crucial that children have the chance to be heard by a real person not lost behind a screen. We must make space for conversations, however small, because that’s what helps children feel safe, understood, and ready to thrive.”
Responding to the mental health crisis
Her work comes at a time of growing concern around the mental health of young people. Mrs P has lent her support to Munira Wilson, MP for Twickenham, who is campaigning for qualified mental health practitioners in every school.
Ms Wilson said: “It’s no secret that we’re at crisis point in terms of the mental health of our children and young people… I’m enormously grateful to Mrs P for raising awareness about this important issue, and helping give children the tools they need to be resilient and thrive into adulthood.”
