The Fix-It Man

About the Book

It’s handy having a dad who can fix just about anything. A young girl believes her father is the king of fixing things, but following the death of her mother, she discovers that broken hearts are not as easy to repair as damaged toys and cracked teapots. Together, she and her father find a way to glue back the pieces of their lives. The Fix-It Man is a poignant picture book that explores how a child can cope with the loss of a parent (in this case, the young girl’s mother). Repairing damaged emotions is not as straightforward as gluing a broken kite back together or sewing up a torn toy. And grief affects all members of a family, with each responding in their own way to the loss. By sticking with her father, the young girl is able to strengthen her resilience and ability to cope with one of life’s harshest experiences. The author was encouraged to seek publication for this story after receiving the endorsement of several grief counsellors who work with children and who recognised the need for a book such as this.

About the Author :
Dimity Powell has published over 30 stories including This is My Dad, the award-winning At the End of Holyrood Lane and the critically acclaimed, The Fix-It Man. Nicky Johnston is an educator, speaker and author/illustrator. She is passionate about promoting emotional resilience in children and raising awareness of mental health issues.

Review :
"We all think it’s lovely – the way in which death and grief is dealt with is gentle and not overpowering." “a poignant story of bereavement, this is an excellent starting point for exploring emotions of grief and loss with young children.” "This is a poignant story of loss and one that will resonate with many children who have lost a parent or other loved one. With its gentle text and soft palette, even though it is sad it is not gloomy because the love between this family oozes from the page and from that, the hope is tangible." "poignant" "Poignant, perfectly pitched and picture perfect" "a fantastic book for those wanting to help teach their child about loss. " "Heartwarming, moving and thoroughly accessible to the very young--this is a book that will soothe the heart of many a reader. When it comes to loss and the possibility of understanding and healing, The Fix-It Man has nailed it." "Achingly beautiful, The Fix-It Man is a gentle touch that can help children and adults deal with the loss of a loved one … With examples like the patching of a teddy bear starting the mending of two hearts, this book will lead to important discussions about how people move on in a time of loss." "Teachers agreed this would be a wonderful resource for a child dealing with loss with its gentle approach." "This story will pull at the heart strings and prompt conversations otherwise hidden beneath broken hearts." “Compelling Children’s book" "A beautiful way to talk about loss and grief" "Written with great compassion by Dimity Powell and beautifully illustrated by Nicky Johnston ‘The Fix-It Man’ is a perfect read for families going through a difficult time of grieving” "In The Fix-It Man, author Dimity Powell and illustrator Nicky Johnston have created a truly beautiful book to help kids with their emotional needs around loss." "A heartwrenching story packed into picture book format, this book will resonate with children who have lost loved ones. A good read aloud about dealing with trials and clinging to your family when the going gets rough." "This is a truly moving story. Every word is perfect" “The Fix-It Man is a thoughtful, caring, picture book story exploring how grief and loss affect a young child … This is an important book. It’s hard to discuss grief and loss with a young child. The Fix-It Man provides a way to do that." "A lovely book, beautifully illustrated and good story for bonding daughters and dads" "Dads are really handy and the loving relationship in this book is well described. Together, the girl and her dad fix everything. Appealing, loving illustrations complete the picture." "Powell tells this gentle story in a way kids will understand. Even quite young children know that not everything can be fixed with glue or sticky tape, and they will gradually gain an understanding that some things can’t be fixed at all...The whole message of the book is pragmatic but positive, poignant and powerful. ." "Loss is inevitable but with tools like this story I believe children are empowered to navigate new and difficult life experiences or to relate to others during challenging time" "The FIX-IT Man is not just for kids. It’s for grown-ups too – I believe it reaches out to two, even three generations in the cycle of life, whispering the roles of helping each other through difficult times." "The Fix-It Man is a thoughtful, caring story of a young child dealing with grief and loss." “… a great way to introduce children to loss and one that I love." “ The Fix-It Man sensitively helps children deal with the death of a loved one. Following the family in the final days before Mama’s death, through the grieving process and finally to healing, the book brings beautiful words and illustrations to those moments when we don’t know what to say.”