This book is ONLY for children whose parents have given their health.
You can scroll down to download the book and accompanying educational resources. Some of these have been released early on this page. To access all of these resources, please register to evaluate our suites of resources.
About the book
In an Australian first, children’s picture books have been created using research for free online programs to assist parents in better supporting young children whose parents give their health in service to their country.
‘And so things have been a bit different’ explores the emotional and physical roller-coaster of a family that has a parent who is injured when they are on service. It is particularly targeted at families who experience this and helps the parents start conversations about the changes in their family and develop emotional understanding and build resilience.
The 3 books we are creating will look at physical injuries and mental health conditions in an age-appropriate way. They will be used in 3 of our program modules that are for very specific families who have experienced these issues. They will have extension activities for parents to use with children. Additionally, for the parents themselves, there will be information about some of the challenges, potential sources of support, ways to transition the family to the new reality, and ways to build understanding and resilience in the family unit.
Here is our graphic illustrator, Raph Roberts from the UNE LaTT (Educational Futures) Media Team, working on our eBooks.
Free, research-based, downloadable resources:
(This book is ONLY suitable for children whose parents have given their health in service). Please read the book before sharing it with children.
- Storybook: So, things have been a bit Different. Bens Story
- Accompanying Educational Activities (puppets, puzzles, matching games, sight words, card games, board games, sequencing and storytelling games)
- audio read-along recording
- digitised eBook (requires constant internet)
- All eBooks, downloadable (printable) versions of the book, and educational materials are free. You can also order a commercial, professionally printed:
- A4 tough book (wire coil bound – slightly smaller than an A4),
- A5 tough book (wire coil bound – half the size of an A4),
- A3 Big Book paperback for teaching groups of children (wire coil bound – twice the size of A4), and
- hard card stock Educational Activities pack (looseleaf).
You are not paying for author royalties, illustrators, graphic designers or technicians. You are paying for a commercial printery (Fuji Xerox Australia) to do on-demand printing, a commercial bookstore (UNE Life Campus Books) to process and pack the online order, Australia Post, a $2 donation to Legacy Australia, and $2-3 for the ECDP project to host their website and continue to provide revisions and updates to the materials, and new resources. The postage and handling is a $14 flat fee for as many books and teaching materials as you like via regular post (so, think about ordering with friends, your organisation, your early childhood service or school). Express Post and International Postage is calculated by weight. Once you click on the link, scroll down to the advanced search, then you can search by typing ‘Defence’ into the ‘Title’ bar or the name of the particular book you are after.
Please contact us with any constructive feedback about these resources because we are still evaluating them.
Other similar books
Here is another page showing a similar book called ‘Oh, by the way, my Mum has PTS’ with an interactive version. Here is another page showing a similar book called ‘In sickness and in health: Sam’s story’ with an interactive version.
How to access these free books
Where and when can I get access to these books? Please have a look at our timeline to see when we finish evaluations and release them to the public for free. If you want early access, please register to test-drive our resources here.
Explore other resources:
- educator’s and family worker resources
- parent’s resources
- Auslan Keyword Signing resources (for those with disability or language delays, or those wanting to learn Auslan Keyword Signing)
- planned educator and parent program module topics
- academic and policymaker resources
New resources being created:
- eBooks, digital interactives and activity books list and age groups
- eBooks (a peek inside)
- a makeover of our old eBooks (a peek inside)
- planned program module topics for parents and educators
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