Shape of a Boy: Family life lessons in far-flung places (a travel memoir)

by Kate Wickers

Overview

"Life-affirming and laugh-out-loud funny" - HELEN FIELDING, AUTHOR OF BRIDGET JONES'S DIARY

Shape of a Boy is a hilarious and eye-opening travel memoir by the mother of three boys as she documents her travels with her family around the world.

‘Have kids, will travel’ is veteran travel journalist Kate’s mantra. Her intrepid spirit is infectious in this warm, engaging account of her family’s adventures and misadventures. She shares the life lessons learnt on their travels, from overcoming disappointment in Thailand to saying sorry in Japan, discovering perseverance in Borneo and learning about conservation in Malaysia.

From the jungles of southeast Asia to the waterfront in Havana and the blazing heat of Egypt, Shape of a Boy captures the essence of being a parent in the thick of it and learning on the hoof. Inspirational for anyone who has dreaded travelling with a baby, toddler, or teen, it is a life-affirming read for every wannabe-traveller. 

Kate’s vivid evocation of the highs and lows of family time make you belly-laugh and bring a lump to your throat.

“Hilarious and wonderfully fluent, Shape of A Boy makes you see each corner of the world afresh. I read it in one long, lounging read, which took me away from Covid to a vibrant world of orangutans and elephants and a family growing together.”
ANDREW CLOVER, best-selling author of Dad Rules

This is a must-read for every wannabe-traveller grounded by lockdown and for every parent who has dreaded travelling with a baby.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780711267176
Publisher:	White Lion Publishing
Publication date:	04/05/2022
Pages:	256
Product dimensions:	5.62(w) x 8.87(h) x 1.12(d)

About the Author

Kate Wickers is a veteran travel journalist who lives in Windsor with her husband and three sons. Shape of a Boy is her first book. When she’s not tripping over games bags, shouting up the stairs “your food is getting cold” and searching for random missing mouth guards, bus passes and shoes, Kate writes features for publications including The Daily Telegraph, The Daily Mail, The Scotsman, The Australian, The Globe & Mail, Porthole & Family Traveller. Kate is now writing her second book and dreaming of her next family trip to Costa Rica. 

Table of Contents

Introduction 1

1 Israel & Jordan: A Lesson in Parenthood 5

2 Mallorca: A Lesson in Family Travel 21

3 Thailand: A Lesson in Recovering from Disappointment 33

4 Cambodia: A Lesson in Sensitivity 50

5 Borneo: A Lesson in Perseverance 67

6 Egypt: A Lesson in Moral High Ground 86

7 Mauritius: A Lesson in Flexibility 105

8 Sri Lanka: A Lesson in Karma 122

9 Malaysia: A Lesson in Conservation 139

10 Mexico: A Lesson in Mortality 157

11 Morocco: A Lesson in Not Judging a Book by its Cover 173

12 Tanzania: A Lesson in the Birds, the Bees, the Monkeys & the Zebras 192

13 Japan: A Lesson in Social Etiquette 209

14 Laos: A Lesson in Slowing Down & Letting Go 226

15 Cuba: A Lesson in Freedom 244

Epilogue 261

Acknowledgements 264

Editorial Reviews

Anyone who has travelled with children will find this book uplifting, life-affirming – and laugh-out-loud funny” Helen Fielding, author of Bridget Jones's Diary

“A whip-smart and hilariously honest how-to (and how-not-to do) parenthood on holiday. My husband should take note.” Celia Walden, author of Payday

“Funny, inspiring, tender, and a little bit bonkers, global travel with three small boys, what could possibly go wrong?” Gil McNeil, author of The Only Boy for Me

“Hilarious and wonderfully fluent, Shape of a Boy makes you see each corner of the world afresh. I read it in one long, lounging read, which took me away from Covid to a vibrant world of orangutans and elephants and a family growing together.”
Andrew Clover, best-selling author of Dad Rules

“All the travel I have been missing between these covers.” Sue Moorcroft, author of A Home in the Sun

"One page made me laugh, the next made me cry – it's incredible how Kate makes you feel like you're on this journey together, seeing the world along with her family.” Katie Bowman, editor of Family Traveller

“Highly entertaining, often hilarious' and 'inspiring to all parents” Bel Mooney, The Daily Mail

“If you seek far-flung adventure but are put off by having the kids in tow, UK travel journalist Kate Wickers’ hilarious book about her overseas escapades with her three sons will make you think again. From Cuba to Sri Lanka, Tanzania to Japan, it tickled the funny bone of Bridget Jones creator Helen Fielding. We’re willing to bet it will give all the family itchy feet.” The Sunday Post 
  "Starting a family might slow down some travellers, but for the Wickers, kids have only made the adventures more fun. Every new destination provides a new lesson - and new laughs.” Grant Balfour, Editor of Porthole Cruise Travel Magazine
"Travel writing at its finest - transports you to another place. Thoughtful and moving, this is a  reminder of the bonding effect travel can have on a family." The Scotsman

"Well written, well paced, well amusing. Made me lustful for wandering - even with the kids!" Ben Aitken, author of The Gran Tour
 

‘highly entertaining, often hilarious' and 'inspiring to all parents'—Bel Mooney, Daily Mail

From the Publisher