Together Things

Together Things by Michelle Vasiliu and Gwynneth Jones (EK Books)

ISBN 9781925820294 RRP $24.99 HB

Reviewed by Nean McKenzie

This picture book explores the issue of children with parents who suffer from mental health issues. With colourful illustrations, Together Things is a story about a girl who spends quality time with her father doing fun activities. When her dad gets sick and must go to hospital, the girl needs to find new pastimes suitable for the new situation. And although different, these ‘together things’ can be just as much fun.  

The first part of the book shows the ‘normal’ things the girl and her father do together: swinging, climbing, swimming, and playing with insects and the cat. The middle part of the story is about her dad getting sick and going to hospital and how that makes the girl feel – ‘Sometimes it makes me feel sad too. Or angry mad’. The last part of the story shows the new quieter activities: reading, drawing, watching TV, listening to music, and cuddling under the blankets. These show how we sometimes need to adapt to allow time to heal.

A recurring theme through the illustrations are squiggles in different colours in the background of the other pictures. But when the dad is sick, all that is left is stark blue doodles on a white background. Gradually the scribbles are replaced with pictures again (including a picture of doodles when drawing). This is a good illustrative device to show emotion and mood and finishes things off on a positive note.

The author Michelle Vasiliu works in mental health peer support for Families Where a Parent has a Mental Illness. She hopes that this book will give people the courage to tackle the topic of mental illness with our children. With one in five adults experiencing depression in their lifetime, it is important to have resources to help young children who are affected.

Books about Coronavirus

Michelle Vasiliu hopes to share books about coronavirus with as many children and adults around the world as possible. There are some incredible resources included that have been generously donated by authors, illustrators, publishers and organisations such as the World Health Organisation. All of those mentioned have given permission to down-load the books at no cost or from free e-reading platforms.

Here is the direct link to the relevant blog on Michelle’s website:

http://www.michellevasiliu.com/how-childrens-books-can-help-little-people-cope-with-covid-19/

There is also a post on Michelle’s FB page (just scroll down a little bit to find it).

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=646128568

Together Things

Together Things by Michelle Vasiliu, illustrated by Gwynneth Jones (EK Books) RRP HB $24.99
ISBN 9781925820294

Reviewed by Kylie Buckley

Together Things is a picture book that looks at adult depression from a child’s perspective. An unnamed little girl reflects on the experiences she used to enjoy with her dad: climbing, swimming, exploring, swinging and playing outdoors. She then states that her dad is sick and that they don’t do any of those things anymore.

The girl’s mother tries to sensitively describe the dad’s depression to her, advising: ‘It muddles up his thoughts. And makes him feel yucky and very very sad.’ The young girl’s simplistic hopes are just to spend quality time with her dad. Naturally the girl has big feelings around her dad’s illness and his change of behaviour, claiming it makes her feel ‘sad’ and ‘angry mad’. Thankfully, her loving mother explains that they may not be able to do the same things they used to, but they can still do things together… different things.

Together Things is beautifully illustrated in full colour double page spreads. There are large random scribbles and swirls on the end papers and most pages throughout the book which symbolise the father’s disordered thoughts and the daughter’s confusion. Together Things has themes of love, family, mental illness and resilience and is suitable for children aged 4-8.