SuitabookDepression and family life
The father’s depression changes the colourful life he and the child once shared, and the child experiences his withdrawal.
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Book details
Andrew Peters - Author
This is a family story about depression seen through a child’s eyes. Its movement from confusion and self-blame towards help and hope may support a careful conversation about what illness can change.
The Colour Thief is a story about depression. Written by Andrew Fusek Peters and Polly Peters, it recounts a child's experience of losing his father to depression. As the illness takes hold his father disappears into a world of pain and confusion taking with it the once colourful life they both shared. The boy fears that he is somehow to blame for his father's condition despite reassurances to the contrary. As the father seeks help a mere glint of colour reappears and with it hope that they can be full of colour once again. An ideal book for parents and carers to share with children to help them make sense of the devastating effects that depression can cause. Poignant illustrations show sensitivity and pain in equal measure. Bought to life by the award-winning illustrator Karin Littlewood. Depression affects 1 in 4 people at some point in their life. This book is a way to open up discussion to support children who may be experiencing depression within their family ...
Book Brief
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Sign in for personalised guidanceThis is a family story about depression seen through a child’s eyes. Its movement from confusion and self-blame towards help and hope may support a careful conversation about what illness can change.
The father’s depression changes the colourful life he and the child once shared, and the child experiences his withdrawal.
The child fears being responsible for the father’s condition, while receiving reassurance that this is not so.
As the father seeks help, a glint of colour reappears and hope returns.
The subject is emotionally weighty: a parent’s depression affects family life, and the child experiences pain, confusion and fear of responsibility. Read alongside the child’s own feelings and questions.
This is a grounded book brief while Suitabook strengthens the analysis: the current material supports only a cautious reading; another book-specific source is still needed.
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