If you grew up in the 80s, there’s a good chance you had a shelf—or a shoebox—filled with Ladybird books. From “The Magic Porridge Pot” to “Tootles the Taxi,” they were colourful little hardbacks packed with adventure, learning, and a certain comforting charm that’s hard to forget. The smell of the pages, the gentle tone of the stories, and the illustrations that stayed with us for decades—these books were a big part of our childhoods.
Fast-forward a few decades and life looks a little different now. For many of us, we’re not just parents—we’re SEND parents. We’re navigating EHCPs, tribunals, meltdowns in Morrisons, sleepless nights, rejection letters, and school systems that don’t quite know what to do with our kids (unless they’re quiet and compliant, which, let’s be honest, ours often aren’t).
It’s a lot.
And in the middle of all that, sometimes the only thing that helps us keep going is… laughter.
Laughter is the best medicine (after caffeine)
Here at AskEllie, we believe in empowering parents with knowledge, resources, and practical help—but also in giving them space to smile, even in the madness. Our Ladybird-style parody book covers were created as a little tribute to the chaos, the courage, and the comedy of raising neurodivergent kids.
Because if we can’t laugh at things like:
- “My Child is ‘Fine’ at School” – Based on the bestselling series Masking 101
- “Meltdowns in Morrisons” – A survival guide to the sensory battlefield that is aisle 9
- “The EHCP and Other Works of Fiction” – A Ladybird book for grown-ups
- “True: Unfortunately I’m Out of Office for a Very, Very Long Time” – The local authority caseworker saga
- “We Regret to Inform You: The School Cannot Meet Need” – Your daily dose of disappointment in hardcover
…then honestly, we’d lose our minds.
A Little History, Because We’re Sentimental Like That
The original Ladybird books date back to 1914, but their golden era came in the post-war decades and right through to the 80s. Priced at just 2/6 (that’s two shillings and sixpence), they were designed to be educational, durable, and affordable. They covered everything from reading and counting to nature, history, and even science. They made learning accessible and visually delightful, all in a pocket-sized format.
Ladybird books weren’t just educational—they were a window into a simpler time. A time when bedtime stories didn’t come with a side of Google Classroom, and you didn’t need a degree in law just to get your child into school.
So now, as parents who grew up in that world, we take those memories and remix them into something that reflects our real daily lives.
Because humour is how we survive.
It’s how we connect.
And it’s how we say to each other: you’re not alone in this.
Come and see the full collection of SEND-inspired Ladybird-style book covers at AskEllie.co.uk—made with love, laughter, and a little too much coffee.
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