Australia’s First Picture Book About Parents in Prison
Donate Here
•
Culture
A new children’s book addresses the incarceration of parents. It’s titled My Dad’s Gone Away and was written by Andrew Krakouer and Jacqueline Dinan. In the story, Tarah’s dad has gone away, and she doesn’t know where. She imagines he is doing all the things he loves, but, when she asks her mum, everything changes. This heartfelt, honest and sensitively told story explores the challenges faced by a child when their parent is incarcerated. My Dad’s Gone Away sheds light on an unspoken issue and gently encourages children and families to talk about how they feel, prepare for visiting day and bolster their resilience to help pass the time.
This age-appropriate story will help encourage such children to have safe conversations with a trusted adult, whether that’s a family member, caseworker, teacher, social worker, coach or carer. For children whose lives are not affected by parental incarceration, this story should promote empathy and compassion as they become aware of different life experiences.
My Dad’s Gone Away is written from a child’s perspective and is illustrated with care, complemented by soft, warm tones. The story captures the confusion, curiosity and heartache of dealing with missing a parent.
It was created by acclaimed Australian rules footballer the late Andrew Krakouer and former foster carer and host mother Jacqueline Dinan, in collaboration with illustrator Paul Seden. It is a tool to help children feel that they are not alone and to break down stigmas surrounding their circumstances.
An Indigenous girl named Tarah was chosen as the main character to help shine a light on the disproportional incarceration rates incurred by First Nations people in this country. First Nations people account for 3.2 per cent of the Australian population but for 32 per cent of Australia’s incarcerated population.
The book was published by Magabala Books and generously endorsed by Australian singer and songwriter Paul Kelly. My Dad’s Gone Away is a strong, direct and important story, beautifully told and illustrated.
A new children’s book addresses the incarceration of parents. It’s titled My Dad’s Gone Away and was written by Andrew Krakouer and Jacqueline Dinan. In the story, Tarah’s dad has gone away, and she doesn’t know where. She imagines he is doing all the things he loves, but, when she asks her mum, everything changes. This heartfelt, honest and sensitively told story explores the challenges faced by a child when their parent is incarcerated. My Dad’s Gone Away sheds light on an unspoken issue and gently encourages children and families to talk about how they feel, prepare for visiting day and bolster their resilience to help pass the time.
This age-appropriate story will help encourage such children to have safe conversations with a trusted adult, whether that’s a family member, caseworker, teacher, social worker, coach or carer. For children whose lives are not affected by parental incarceration, this story should promote empathy and compassion as they become aware of different life experiences.
My Dad’s Gone Away is written from a child’s perspective and is illustrated with care, complemented by soft, warm tones. The story captures the confusion, curiosity and heartache of dealing with missing a parent.
It was created by acclaimed Australian rules footballer the late Andrew Krakouer and former foster carer and host mother Jacqueline Dinan, in collaboration with illustrator Paul Seden. It is a tool to help children feel that they are not alone and to break down stigmas surrounding their circumstances.
An Indigenous girl named Tarah was chosen as the main character to help shine a light on the disproportional incarceration rates incurred by First Nations people in this country. First Nations people account for 3.2 per cent of the Australian population but for 32 per cent of Australia’s incarcerated population.
The book was published by Magabala Books and generously endorsed by Australian singer and songwriter Paul Kelly. My Dad’s Gone Away is a strong, direct and important story, beautifully told and illustrated.
Date Published
October 8, 2025
By About Time
By About Time
Set on a quiet island in the dead of winter, The Wife and the Widow is a gripping mystery/thriller told from two perspectives.
ISSUE NO. 9
•
6 MIN READ
By Grace
By Grace
Stuck with free-to-air TV? Here are some great shows to help time fly by.
ISSUE NO. 13
•
2 MIN READ
By Damien Linnane
By Damien Linnane
After running Australia’s first ever international prison art exhibition in Sydney in May last year, it was great to be able to finally tour the works to another city. We plan to bring the art to a new city each year.
ISSUE NO. 12
•
2 MIN READ
By About Time
By About Time
A selection of classics!
ISSUE NO. 14
•
3 MIN READ
By Edward
Place Scotch Fingers into a large container and use a peanut butter jar (lid part) to crush the biscuits. Add plum jam for a richer flavour.
ISSUE NO. 25
•
2 MIN READ
By Areej Nur
As 3CR marks 50 years of radical radio, Beyond the Bars enters its 25th year of broadcasting live inside Victorian prisons.
ISSUE NO. 24
•
2 MIN READ