A story with the truth of mental illness along with hope seen through a child's eyes
When I received the media release from the Thames Valley District School Board about this wonderful book I rushed out to get two copies. I cannot remember another author that has dared to tackle a serious mental illness in a book for children. I was told that it was written at about a grade two level (except for the notes for parents and other caregivers at the back of the book.)
I read through the book trying to see it through a child's eyes. It was designed like one of those workbooks we all used to practice our printing in with our lower and upper case letters. Today kids get to use the same books to write daily journals in them and draw colourful pictures about what is going on in their lives. Writing in journals wasn't quite invented in 1972 when I was in grade 2.
The whole book has the feel of a journal of boy or girl who has a parent with bipolar illness (manic-depression). Like little children at that age he/she speaks of it in a matter of fact kind of way. Life goes on. I don't want to give too much away. The author of the book Londoner, Tricia Prato is the daughter of the publisher, Dianne Prato. The book was first written by Prato as an assignment when she was in Teacher's College.
I suspect every person who is reading this can think of how mental illness has touched their family's life in one way or another but how many of you have thought about the 5, 6 or 7 year old who has been along for the miserable ride as the family often disintegrates. Don't they deserve some attention?
I really suggest that you plunk down the $10.99 plus GST at Chapters and give this book to a family in turmoil who might need some guidance. Or maybe you could sit down with your niece, nephew, son, daughter or little one that is close to you and read the book to the child, making adjustments along the way as adults often do with books when some things may not fit the situation. Ask them some questions. And when they answer, please listen.
This book was written by a Londoner and it is a real find. Few have written so honestly and so tenderly. Children depend on adults to explain the really big, difficult problems in life to them when nothing seems to make sense. This book will help the adult get started in their task. The book is written in a child's voice.
