More to emotions with Lauren McRae
- Kat Lord
- 5 days ago
- 3 min read
Lauren came to read her book, Mummy and the Hidden Rainbow, on the Kids' Zone at the Home, Life and You show last month.
Lauren McRae, author of Mummy and the Hidden Rainbow and founder of Little Light Tales, writes heartfelt stories inspired by her own experiences as a mum and wellbeing coach. Her work shines a gentle light on mental health, emotions, and family connection — helping parents and children talk more openly about the feelings we all share. Through her books, Lauren hopes to create a safe, comforting space where stories spark understanding, compassion, and hope.
How did your book come about?
My story came about through my own experiences with mental health. There were times when I found it difficult to explain to my son why Mummy sometimes felt sad, tired, or needed a little quiet time. I wanted him to understand that it wasn’t anything he had done wrong — that emotions are a normal part of life, and even grown-ups have days when they need to rest or talk things through.
As a family, we’ve always tried to be open about our feelings, and I’ve seen how powerful that can be. Talking about emotions takes away the shame and confusion that so many of us grew up with. I wanted to capture that message in a gentle, child-friendly way — through a story that helps both parents and children feel seen and understood. That’s really how Mummy and the Hidden Rainbow came to life — from a place of love, honesty, and the hope of helping others open up those important conversations at home.
What do children learn from the book?
I hope children reading Mummy and the Hidden Rainbow learn that all feelings are valid and that it’s okay to talk about them. The story uses the idea of a “hidden rainbow” to show that emotions come in many shades — some bright and joyful, others darker or quieter — but every colour has its place and meaning.
Children learn that it’s normal for parents to feel sad or overwhelmed sometimes, and that those feelings don’t mean love has disappeared. They also learn empathy — how to recognise emotions in others and offer kindness and patience when someone isn’t feeling their best.
Most of all, I want children to understand that emotions aren’t something to fix or hide, but something to explore. When we talk about how we feel, it helps us connect more deeply. I think that’s such an important message for children to grow up with, especially in a world that can sometimes rush us past our own emotions.
What is next for you?
Looking ahead, I really want to continue growing my stories surrounding mental health and emotional wellbeing. There are so many topics I’d love to explore — from self-compassion and resilience to mindfulness and connection — all in ways that feel warm, hopeful, and accessible for children and families. My goal is to create stories that act as gentle tools for parents to use at home when starting those tricky but necessary conversations about feelings.
I’ve already started working on my next book, Mummy and the Whispering Tree, which focuses on mindfulness and the importance of slowing down. It encourages children to pause, take a breath, and listen — not just to the world around them, but to their own thoughts and bodies. It’s about noticing when you need rest, when you feel joy, or when you might need a little extra kindness from yourself or others.
Through this next story and beyond, I hope to keep building a series that helps families feel more connected, more seen, and more open in how they talk about their inner worlds.
Contact Lauren McRae
and follow her on Instagram: @little.lighttales
Comments