The Colour Thief

Their life was full of colour until one day a thief came and took it away. This is a story of despair and hope for families who are touched by the devastating effects of depression.
'This book brings freshness and vibrancy into a world often portrayed as dark and hidden, and it can help take away the feelings of helplessness and fear that can make families feel so alone.' Marjorie Wallace CBE, Hon FRC Psych, Founder of SANE. The Colour Thief is a story about depression. Written by Andrew Fusek Peters and Polly Peters, it recounts a child's experience of losing his father to depression. As the illness takes hold his father disappears into a world of pain and confusion taking with it the once colourful life they both shared. The boy fears that he is somehow to blame for his father's condition despite reassurances to the contrary. As the father seeks help a mere glint of colour reappears and with it hope that they can be full of colour once again.

An ideal book for parents and carers to share with children to help them make sense of the devastating effects that depression can cause.

Poignant illustrations show sensitivity and pain in equal measure.

Bought to life by the award-winning illustrator Karin Littlewood.

Depression affects 1 in 4 people at some point in their life. This book is a way to open up discussion to support children who may be experiencing depression within their family...

Andrew Fusek Peters and Polly Peters have written and edited over 110 books for all ages, many critically acclaimed, with rights and co-editions sold worldwide. Their books have been translated into 17 languages. These include poetry collections, picture books, storybooks, anthologies, plays, graphic novels, verse novels, photography books and fiction.

Polly & Andrew's new children's picture book on the theme of family depression, The Colour Thief, illustrated by Karin Littlewood, is now out with Wayland. Their new Radio 4 play The Man Who Turned Into A Sofa, aired on September 17 2014. They have written ten trickster folk tales from around the world, with ten superb illustrators for IB International. Andrew's eco fantasy thriller Ravenwood, and its sequel The Glass Forest, are published with Chicken House and 15 countries world wide. 'No wonder it is being described as an epic,' Books For Keeps. Also available as a BBC audio book.

Andrew's poetry collection Leaves Are Like Traffic Lights is out with Salt.

Andrew and Polly's Shropshire set horror novel Do Not Wake The Devil is out with Pearson.

Titles include Andrew's new nature writing memoir Dip, a year of Wild Swims and Stories from the Borderlands, published by Rider Books {Random House}.

Dip has featured in You Magazine, Radio 4 Midweek 'A lyrical book' Libby Purves, and on the BBC One Show and the BBC World Service Outlook programme, in the Independent and the Scotsman.

'The writing is so lyrical, full of metaphor, indeed there are moments when words and water fuse together.' Matt Haig, Independent

'Dip tells of a total immersion in Nature, a courageous trust in its restorative powers and an authentic experience of the wild. This is a damn good read.' Paul Evans, Guardian Country Diarist

'the outdoor tradition of English writing stretches by way of Gilbert White and Borrow, Cobbett, Jefferies and Hudson, through Williamson to those few authentic outdoor and nature writers - Jim Crumley, Mark Cocker, Paul Evans, Andrew Fusek Peters - of the present day.' Jim Perrin, Great Outdoors Magazine

Further info can be found on Andrew's new website for photography and writing for adults www.andrewfusekpeters.com.