My Name is Jemima by Olivia Muscat, illustrated by Allison Colpoys

Title: My Name is Jemima

Author: Olivia Muscat, illustrated by Allison Colpoys

Genre: Non-fiction

Publisher: Scribble Kids

Published: 3^rd June 2025

Format: Hardback

Pages: 32

Price: $19.95

Synopsis: Meet Jemima, a lovable Labrador with a very important job!

While Jemima loves playing with her favourite yellow bone and getting lots of cuddles, she’s also a fully trained guide dog who helps her handler navigate the world. From busy street crossings to cozy moments at home, Jem balances her fun-loving nature with the focus and dedication needed to be an extraordinary guide dog.

Written by blind disability activist and guide dog user Olivia Muscat, with illustrations by award-winning artist Allison Colpoys, this charming picture book shares an insider’s view of the special bond between a guide dog and her handler. Includes an audio version narrated by the author herself.

Themes: Friendship; teamwork; dogs; guide dog; disability; kindness; inclusion

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Jemima is a Guide Dog – which means she is a Very Important Pup with a Very Important Job. Every day, she helps her handler, Olivia, navigate the world. Olivia is a blind disability advocate and Guide Dog user, and Jemima helps her get around the shops or on and off public transport. She can help Olivia get around galleries and libraries, and find her seat in theatres. And she keeps her safe crossing the street. Because she’s trained very well to do this, it means Jemima can go to all these places.

Olivia has written this book to give readers of all ages an inside view on the wonderful work a Guide Dog does, and to show people the special bond they have. When Jemima is working, she’s focused and determined. When she’s not working, she is just a regular pup. There are important messages around disability advocacy in this book, and I am happy to be highlighting it during Disability Pride Month. This book reminds people that they should not distract a Guide Dog when they’re out working, and not talk to them or pat them. They’ve got a Very Important Job to do after all.

Olivia’s story advocates and educates through the eyes of Jemima and in her voice, accompanied by lovely illustrations from Allison Colpoys that bring Jemima, Olivia and their adventures around the city to life.  It’s an excellent to teach people about Guide Dogs and what they do, and to start conversations about etiquette when you see one. It’s perfect for people who have seen Guide Dogs and want to know more about what they do and to teach children about them. There’s also a QR Code you can scan to hear Olivia read the story, which makes it accessible to many readers, and amplifies disabled voices. This was a great book, and I think it is one for everyone, and people of all ages. I loved it and felt like it is one I will keep going back to. It’s great to see books that are fun and educational about important issues like Guide Dogs coming out at the moment. It’s these stories that will have the potential to create more awareness, understanding and education around disability and accessibility in fun and accessible ways.

It’s wonderful seeing more books by disabled authors about their experiences, and these are valuable stories. Stories that need to be heard and understood. I picked up Olivia’s book because I volunteer with Guide Dogs NSW/ACT and it’s a resource that makes the work I do very interesting and gives a human voice and lived experience understanding to what I have been doing. Books like this contribute to the fantastic conversations about disability and accessibility that are ongoing and working towards better inclusion and accessibility for disabled people in the community. They bring the voices to the wider public, allowing people like Olivia to speak for themselves and become brilliant advocates for their community. It’s a great addition to books by disabled authors, and is authentic and joyful – perfect for all ages.