Cosham author publishes lockdown-inspired book to help children through being apart

Author and illustrator Kim Gregory found that, of her three children, four-year-old Edward was the one who struggled to make sense of what was happening in the world.

While older sisters Annie, 13, and 10-year-old Marla could understand isolating and social distancing, Edward really struggled to understand the need for the measures - and what he could and couldn’t do, said Kim, of Salisbury Road.

The result was the production of Here and There - a book about being apart, which is accompanied by ink and watercolour illustrations.

Amazon, which publishes the book, states it is ‘a humble little reminder that those you love, wherever they are, are still there for you and, equally, you can be there for them’.

While Kim’s book does not mention lockdown, it was prompted by conditions created by the Covid-19 pandemic and the need to explain to Edward why he couldn’t play with his best friend, Elliott.

It features two bears as friends making sense of their emotions now that their worlds have been moved apart. Highlighting what they are missing, the bears work towards the conclusion that ‘not being in the same place together, just means we are in different places together’ .

But as sales of her book have taken off, Kim has found Here and There is in demand in circles other than the lockdown-related ones she expected.

Kim said: ‘Military family support organisations, those dealing with divorce and other situations involving separation are also expressing interest.

‘Author visits to primary schools are being planned for the next school year to read to the children and discuss experiences of lockdown. So Here and There addresses a number of separation situations.’

A seasoned artist, photographer and musician, Kim was in the process of completing other work - including several books - when lockdown was declared.

She immediately dropped her other projects to concentrate on producing Here and There, and pulled it together in just three weeks.

Here and There is available to buy on Amazon. For information about school visits or use of her book, contact Kim through kimgregory.co.uk

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