A young crocodile processes grief by drawing to stay close to his father.

Drawings for Dad is a tender and poignant story about love, loss, and the healing power of creativity. When a young crocodile’s father is taken away, the days feel empty. But through his drawings—memories captured in crayon—he finds a way to express his feelings and stay connected. This gentle picture book explores grief, emotional resilience, and the unbreakable bond between parent and child. The soft and expressive illustrations perfectly mirror the emotional journey, offering warmth, sensitivity, and hope. Perfect for sparking important conversations with children about change, absence, and remembering those we love.

• A sensitive and accessible exploration of childhood grief and emotional expression.
• Encourages creativity as a powerful tool for coping, connection, and healing.
• Gentle, emotionally rich illustrations bring comfort and depth to a difficult subject, with soft textures and expressive characterisation.

Vanessa Alexander is a teacher and enjoys reading picture books by fabulous authors and illustrators to school children. She is also a mum and loves to make up stories with her kids. Her fun stories are about ordinary stuff that can sometimes cause big problems for families. Vanessa is from ‘The Outback’ – far western Queensland, Australia. She is making life happen with her husband and three young kids, doing ordinary stuff, every day.

Elodie Gauche is a children’s book illustrator currently living in Nantes, France. Formerly an engineer, she studied illustration at Escola de la Dona in Barcelona, Spain, where she illustrated her first children’s books. She uses traditional media such as gouache and coloured pencils, and especially enjoys creating new characters and experimenting with colourful palettes.

RRP: AUD 26.99 / GBP £12.99 / USD $18.99

Format: Hardback

ISBN: 978-1-80036-094-5