Fullers Bookshop, 5.30pm, Thurs, 11 May 2017: Albert Has Two Homes Now …
Lucinda Sharp Director, FORTY SOUTH PUBLISHING Pty Ltd
This unique and uplifting children’s picture book about family separation is written and illustrated by 4-year-old Albert and his artist mum, Kate. Using simple language and imagery, it outlines some of the changes around family break-up and takes a positive approach to what is often a difficult, life-changing experience. The book also contains guidance for adults on using art and story-telling as a way of helping young children communicate their feelings, gain understanding and build confidence.
Background: When Kate and her partner separated in 2016, their son, Albert, was 3 years old. To help Albert through the situation, Kate went in search of books to help explain what was happening. Although she found numerous books for children on divorce and separation, they were consistently written from an adult point of view. Albert found many of these books baffling, sad, and scary.
As an artist and writer, creativity had always helped Kate find solace and sense in times where words failed her, and she thought that making art could also help her son, who was still too young to talk about his feeling in words alone. So they sat down together and Albert talked and drew. Kate transcribed and queried and doodled alongside him. Through the process, this book was born.
Told from Albert’s perspective, and centred on his drawings, it was a true collaboration; with Kate’s writing and drawing skills refining and guiding the work into a tangible story of his direct experience of family separation.
Kate Kelly is a Hobart based artist and writer with qualifications in Fine Art and Performing Arts. She has worked extensively in the community and general arts sector as a production manager, project coordinator, writer and visual artist since 1992. This book marks her foray into pursuing her lifelong dream of writing children’s books. She is currently working on further books with a similar aim – to help children of all ages develop confidence, embrace their creativity and share their own stories.
Albert Evans is a four-year-old boy with a curious nature and gentle soul who loves to draw, sing, build, swim and play. He wants to make more books with his mum and is currently determined to learn to write his name in small letters so he can sign them. He hopes this book makes people happy.
Download invitation …