A young girl misses the dad she knew. He would go adventuring with her, climbing, swimming, flying high on a swing. Together their imaginations ran wild.

But now he is sick and he doesn’t want to do those things anymore because he is too sad. Mum says his thoughts are muddled and he has to see a doctor. Maybe the doctor can give Dad some magic medicine to bring back the dad she knew?

But in the meantime… they can find other things to do together. They can connect through music, movies, story and art. Maybe she hasn’t lost her dad after all.

A sad but beautiful picture book exploring a child’s view of a parent’s depression. These feelings, along with the young girl’s confusion and anger is portrayed in darkening squiggly lines the further you venture through the book. The squiggles lighten again, and although they are still there, new connections help keep them at bay.

The bond between father and daughter is evident on every page. Gorgeous. A gentle way of explaining depression and a way forward that a child can relate to.

Author – Michelle Vasiliu

Illustrator – Gwynneth Jones

Picture Book

(Depression, Family, Dad, Father, Feelings, Sadness, Confusion, Treatment, Connections, Understanding. Patience, Love, Understanding)