Ever since Winston Churchill popularised the phrase Black Dog to describe the bouts of depression he experienced for much of his life, it has become the shorthand for the disease that millions of people suffer from, often in shame and silence.
Artist and writer Matthew Johnstone, a sufferer himself, has written and illustrated this moving and uplifting insight into what it is like to have a Black Dog as a companion. It shows that strength and support that can be found within and around us to tame it. Black Dog can be a terrible beast, but with the right steps can be brought to heel.
Toward Finding and Mobilizing Community Assets This guide to asset-based community development is a summary of the lessons learned by studying successful community-building initiatives in hundreds of neighbourhoods across the United States. The book outlines in simple terms how communities can rediscover and map their local assets, then combine and mobilise these strengths to build stronger, more self-reliant communities. More info
Gordon's Got a Snookie is a hilarious story sure to appeal to children and to their adult readers. Shanahan's text is a delightful blend of humour and gentle message about the acceptability of snookies, or blankies or other comforters. The illustrations of Wayne Harris perfectly complement the text, capturing the range of emotions from enthusiasm to loneliness with a delightful colour range and skilful portrayal of the characters' facial expressions More info
If you are interested in human behaviour this book provides an excellent and easily understood story about the connections of social child development and neuroscience. How we develop a "we" from and "i" is a crucial part of human development. The author describes how the brain, develops throughout our lives, this work shows us how brains are highly social organisms. It illustrates how the architecture and development of the brain systems - from before birth through adulthood - determine how we interact with others. More info
