I grew up heavily influenced by the mainstream media spinning the narrative that success was related directly to how much hard work you put in.  In many ways, that damaging narrative continues but the Covid-19 crisis has shone a bit of a spotlight on how easy it can be to move from living a comfortable life, or even just coping, to experiencing disadvantage.

The picture book Simon and the Sad Salad by Teigan Margetts explains in just one sentence how quickly life can go from comfortable to a depressing struggle and the immediate impact of that change;

Children want clear, straight-forward reasons for why things happen and the narrative in this simple book explains succinctly how anyone can experience disadvantage, the immediate effects and how it can feel for those experiencing it.  The story provides a base from which to explore the societal reasons why people often can’t escape disadvantage and the wider implications of it.   

It is especially important right now to acknowledge and understand poverty and disadvantage as Covid-19 wreaks havoc on our lives, leaving people more isolated with little income or the threat of losing their entire livelihood or house.  It may sound extreme but for some, Covid-19 means dropping below the breadline.

The fact of the matter is that the effects of disadvantage are wide and far-reaching. Low socio-economic status is proven to be one factor which can negatively affect literacy and, in a country where almost half of our 15-74 year olds do not have the literacy skills to meet the demands of everyday life, this is a major problem.  In fact, in one disadvantaged suburb of Geelong, nearly one third of children finish their first year at school without basic literacy skills and little interest in books.

Whether your family that has hit a rough time or you are in a position to give generously right now, let books like Simon and the Sad Salad by Teigan Margetts be the starting point for conversation in your house about disadvantage, the causes and effects, and what we can all do about it.  Also, keep following my blog posts as I take a detour into these conversations and how literacy levels are affected and the simple steps we can take to negate some of that effect.

The year 2020 has really shone a spotlight on areas we desperately need to improve upon and the need is now immediate; compassion and empathy, care for the environment and gender equality.  These themes, amongst others, are the focus of the new Melbourne-based children’s book publisher, Ethicool Books who are challenging us to start the big conversations with our little ones.

Click on the link to watch a read aloud video of Simon and the Sad Salad https://ethicoolbooks.com/products/simon-and-the-sad-salad-kids-book or buy your own copy.