Dear Mum: Poems for Mums & Their Babies is a charming illustrated poetry collection by Pam Ayres, one of Britain's most warmly regarded comic poets. It gathers her humorous, affectionate verses on pregnancy, new motherhood and the everyday chaos of life with a baby — the kind of writing that makes you laugh because it is entirely, disarmingly true.
What makes this copy especially interesting is its origin: it is an exclusive promotional edition produced for Peaudouce, the nappy brand, and was never sold through bookshops in the ordinary way. That makes it genuinely uncommon — collectors of Pam Ayres memorabilia or vintage British humour paperbacks will rarely encounter one in presentable condition. The illustrations throughout are by Brian Reading, whose witty line drawings are a perfect complement to Ayres' verse.
This is an ideal nostalgic gift for a Pam Ayres fan, a collector of 1980s British ephemera, or anyone looking for something a little different for Mother's Day, a baby shower or a new mum. It is complete, fully readable and has real period character.
| Title | Dear Mum: Poems for Mums & Their Babies |
| Author | Pam Ayres |
| Illustrator | Brian Reading |
| Publisher | Peaudouce |
| Edition | Exclusive Peaudouce Edition (promotional) |
| ISBN | 0727820664 |
| Format | Paperback |
| Approximate Pages | 60+ |
| Genre | Poetry, Humour |
| Topic | Motherhood, Pregnancy, Babies |
| Language | English |
| Era / Decade | 1980s |
| Country of Origin | United Kingdom |
| Vintage | Yes |
| Occasion | Mother's Day, Baby Shower, New Mum Gift |
| Condition | Used — Good |
Used — Good. A presentable and fully readable copy with honest age-related wear consistent with a 1980s paperback. The cover is in good shape with only light surface scuffs; edges and corners are slightly soft but entirely intact with no tears or creasing. The spine is sound and straight. Interior pages are tanned and yellowed throughout — this is entirely normal for paper of this age and is not damage. A faint pencil inscription is visible on the front endpaper; no other writing, stamps or highlighting anywhere in the book. All pages are present and complete with no missing or torn leaves. A solid copy of an uncommon edition.
Q: Is this a genuine original 1980s edition or a later reprint?
A: This is a genuine original Peaudouce promotional edition from the 1980s — not a reprint or reproduction. It was produced as an exclusive tie-in with the Peaudouce nappy brand and was never a standard bookshop title, which is why copies surface so rarely.
Q: The listing mentions a pencil inscription — can you describe it?
A: There is a faint pencil inscription on the front endpaper. It appears to be a brief personal dedication or name in light pencil. It does not affect reading the book and is the only handwriting anywhere in the copy. It can be seen in the photograph showing the open front endpaper.
Q: Are all the illustrated pages intact?
A: Yes. Every page is present and complete. Brian Reading's line drawings throughout the book are all intact and undamaged.
Q: Would this make a suitable gift? Is it presentable enough to give?
A: Yes — it is a good, presentable used copy. The cover is attractive and the age tanning of the pages is internal. It has genuine vintage charm that many recipients of a certain age will find wonderfully nostalgic. The close-up cover photograph in the listing gives a clear picture of the overall presentation.
Q: Does the "not for resale" marking affect its value or legality to buy?
A: The "not for resale" mark refers to the original promotional distribution — it was not sold through retail channels when new. There is no restriction on the secondhand sale of the book now. Many collectors specifically seek out promotional editions precisely because they were never commercially available, making them rarer than standard print runs.
Questions about this book? Please feel free to message — we are happy to help.
If you would like additional photographs — for example a closer look at the endpaper inscription, the condition of the spine, or any interior pages — just ask and we will add them promptly.
Thank you for looking.