Did you know, over 10% of households in Australia comprise of a single or primary parent and of those single parents, 82% of them are female? Similar figures exist in countries throughout, New Zealand, the Americas and Europe. Until I was promoted by a proactive teacher librarian during a Book Week visit to her school, I was only vaguely aware of these statistics. She highlighted a notable absence of mainstream picture books reflecting children who had never known a ‘father figure’ and or had no significant male model in their lives.
Like other casual suggestions for book ideas from people in the frontline of education and child care, this was an idea I simply couldn’t let go.
Award winning children's author Dimity Powell loves to fill every spare moment with words. She writes and reviews exclusively for children and is Kids' Book Review's very own managing editor. She is a seasoned presenter both in Australia and overseas and believes picture books are food for the soul, to be consumed as often as possible. She regularly relishes creating her own including Oswald Messweather (2021), Pippa (2019), the SCBWI Crystal Kite Award winner, At the End of Holyrood Lane, (2018) and the critically acclaimed, The Fix-It Man, (2017). Dimity is a tireless advocate of Kids’ Lit with strong convictions about the power of storytelling, reading and writing. She loves sharing her accumulated knowledge with big and little kids and is a Books in Homes Australia Volunteer Role Model, Story City Community Mentor and G.A.T.EWAYS online and onsite presenter.
Fortunately, I didn't and in a couple of short months, my latest picture book will hopefully help fill those literary gaps on school library and home bookshelves around the world. This story, illustrated by Nicky Johnston with generous heart and unfettered affection, is a timely commentary on contemporary family dynamics and societal trends that highlights a situation many children experience within classroom set ups. And so without further ado, it's time to become acquainted with ...
... This Is My Dad.
This Is My Dad suggests that although the presence of strong positive male role models is crucial to a child’s well-being and healthy emotional balance, it is simply not always a realistic possibility and that the strengths and attributes of primary carers be they female, single-parents, same-sex parents, grandparents or otherwise are equally worthy of celebration.
This book embraces the themes of family, relationships, fathers, single parents, imagination, writing, occupations, and positive role modelling and is available to pre-order through EK Books.
This book embraces the themes of family, relationships, fathers, single parents, imagination, writing, occupations, and positive role modelling and is available to pre-order through EK Books.
To learn more about Leo's story visit Dimity's website. This is My Dad will be coming to a bookshop and library near you mid March 2022.
Award winning children's author Dimity Powell loves to fill every spare moment with words. She writes and reviews exclusively for children and is Kids' Book Review's very own managing editor. She is a seasoned presenter both in Australia and overseas and believes picture books are food for the soul, to be consumed as often as possible. She regularly relishes creating her own including Oswald Messweather (2021), Pippa (2019), the SCBWI Crystal Kite Award winner, At the End of Holyrood Lane, (2018) and the critically acclaimed, The Fix-It Man, (2017). Dimity is a tireless advocate of Kids’ Lit with strong convictions about the power of storytelling, reading and writing. She loves sharing her accumulated knowledge with big and little kids and is a Books in Homes Australia Volunteer Role Model, Story City Community Mentor and G.A.T.EWAYS online and onsite presenter.
Get to know Dimity better via her website or Instagram.
Find out all about Nicky via her website.
