Let’s Talk

About the Book

Jack loves his aunty. He goes to her house, and they play games. Sometimes, though, his aunt’s feelings make her sick. It can be very hard for her to get out of bed and go about doing daily tasks. She does her best to hide her feelings so that people don’t know she’s sad, but hiding her feelings only makes her sadness worse. To get help, Jack’s aunty goes to the doctor. Occasionally, she stays in the hospital, but she always comes home, ready to play with Jack again. The more she learns to share her feelings, the happier she gets. Jack thinks his smile makes his aunt feel happy, too. He realizes that it’s good to talk about emotions, whether they’re good or bad. Mental illness is a serious issue that does not discriminate on the basis of age, gender, race, or economic background. This book is intended to encourage children to talk to their parents and caregivers about their emotions. Talking and asking for help is not a sign of weakness, but a sign of true courage and strength.

About the Author

Sandra Lahey is a Canadian Australian who currently lives in Queensland. She is the youngest of six children born into a large and loving family. Encouraged by her parents and teachers, she has enjoyed writing from an early age. She finds writing to be a positive outlet for self-expression, especially through her own struggles with mental illness.