The Colour Thief: A Family's Story of Depression
by Andrew Fusek Peters, illustrated by Karin Littlewood
Interest age: 4 to 8
Reading age: 7+
Published by Wayland, 2014
About this book
When someone in the family suffers from a mental illness, it can be hard to explain to young children. Depression affects not only individuals but their families too.
This beautifully illustrated picture book depicts one boy's experience of his father's depression likening it to a world drained of colour and joy. The story acknowledges the feelings of helplessness that children might experience, helps them to understand that they are in no way to blame for a parent's illness and, perhaps most importantly, offers the reassurance that one day the colour will return to the world.
Drawing on personal experiences of living in a family blighted by depression, this unusual, yet important, book may help youngsters to make sense of an illness they cannot see.
About the author
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Lists of recommended reads
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Books to help children understand depression in grown-ups
Reading can be a wonderful way to explore emotions or tricky situations. If you're a parent or carer with depression, the fiction books below may help your child talk about their feelings and understand what's going on a bit better.