Little Passenger
Illustrated by
26 February 2026Synopsis
Little Passenger.
I have made space for you inside my heart.
It will always be a little bigger than you are.
To give you room to grow.
A stunning love letter to mothers and babies. With a bookplate for personalization, this is an ideal Mother's Day gift for any new or expectant mother as well as a keepsake and go-to baby shower, naming ceremony or christening gift.
Mother and baby are growing together and getting ready to greet the world. Through simple, deeply moving words and truly stunning illustrations, we share an intimate journey through pregnancy and watch a baby develop from a little pea to pumpkin-sized to ... a baby, in their mother's arms.
This picture book journey embodies all the vulnerability, hope and tenderness of a new pregnancy and the deep connection between a mother and her unborn child. It also includes a sensitively worded dedication to all the little passengers who never made it, acknowledging that many pregnancy journeys are not always straightforward.
The debut picture book from Deirdre Sullivan is perfectly matched with Jessica Love, the illustrator of Julian Is a Mermaid, who illustrates this language of movement and light and love, using colour and space like never seen before on a picture book page.
Details
26 February 2026
9781529507157Reviews
Little Passenger. I have made space for you inside my heart.’ This line from Deirdre Sullivan’s début picturebook perfectly captures the essence of what might be the most wonderful, heartwarming, sweet and beautifully written book this reviewer has ever read. The words speak for themselves, making this book an ode to love, motherhood and the magic of waiting during pregnancy.
The soft, whimsical watercolour illustrations bring the reader into the wonderful world of warmth and wonder that is waiting for a baby. Jessica Love manages to complement the text perfectly with illustrations that capture the love and care that surround every little passenger during each stage of waiting and growing.
I dare say many pregnant readers might find themselves tearing up after reading the first few pages – speaking from experience! The love that emerges from the pages is truly palpable. A true work of art from both writer and illustrator.
This poetic, beautiful picture book features a mother talking to her growing baby throughout pregnancy (“You are a full stop, a pea, a single grape”). Love’s lustrous ink and watercolour illustrations marry the delicate tendrils of developing plants with the intricate stitches of a sampler.
Little Passenger is one of the most beautiful picture books I've come across in years. From the textured cover to the delicious watercolour illustrations, this is a book that was created with care and time... The illustrations, inspired by embroidery and quilting, are stunning, from the tiny stitches around the borders, to the waiting mum (and her tabby cat). The opening page also sensitively acknowledges little passengers who didn't make it. A timeless book, very much for adults as well as children.
