Photo: Supplied.
March sees the nationwide release of Manly author Dannika Patterson’s latest children’s book, My Super Uncle, a collaboration with CBCA-shortlisted illustrator and Noongar artist, Seantelle Walsh.
A heartwarming celebration of family bonds and everyday heroes, My Super Uncle is a picture book that celebrates families whose structure extends beyond the nuclear unit. This story honours the importance of role models and chosen family in a child’s life – the lighthouse figures who provide guidance, support and safety to children as they grow.
Written in playful rhyme, the story is told through the lens of a child who idolises her chosen uncle so much, she suspects he has superpowers. It is pitch-perfect for reading aloud to children aged 5-9 in home and school environments, and children will delight in the details included in relatable scenes: swings, sports, hide and seek, drawing, dress-ups, beach trips, washing up, family gatherings and story times.
In a classroom context, this book touches on areas of the K-10 Australian Curriculum that focuses on diversity, inclusion, family, community, respect and kindness.
My Super Uncle is a beautifully age-appropriate conversation-starter about diversity, culture and how different kinds of families can be made, serving as an accessible resource for parents, teachers, counsellors and wellbeing professionals.
Dannika was inspired to write this book because she believes that storytelling is one of the most effective ways humans have to increase understanding, spread immunity to prejudice and help decrease negative behaviours, especially towards marginalised peoples.
“If someone closes a book and walks through the rest of their life with even a slightly greater capacity to understand, empathise, accept or celebrate the full humanity of those they perceive as different to them in some way, there’s power in that story,” Dannika said.
“My sincere hope in writing My Super Uncle is that it will speak to the hearts of children and families of all kinds, helping them feel seen, or to recognise the beautifully diverse family units of their friends or peers in the pages, too.”
My Super Uncle is now available where all good books are sold, including our wonderful local bookshops, The Mad Hatters Book Shop at The Mall in Manly, and Little Gnome Book Shop on Edith Street in Wynnum.
To learn more about Dannika Patterson’s books and story-driven workshops for schools and community events, visit dannikapatterson.com.
