Foster Care Inspires Kids Book on Rediscovering Joy

Australian author Dimity Powell’s new picture book The Boy Who Lost His Laugh shines a light on the realities of foster care and the hope available to vulnerable children.

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Australian children’s author Dimity Powell loves preserving the wonder and imagination that comes with childhood, and her latest book explores how those qualities can be retained for children in foster care.

The Boy Who Lost His Laugh follows Tim, a young boy so used to moving from home to home – or “family hopping” – that he’s stopped unpacking his toys and loses the ability to express himself.

“He’s beginning to lose hope,” Dimity told Hope 103.2.

“That’s what makes him lose his laugh.”

While the story is a short picture book, it’s grounded in extensive research that clarified for Dimity the challenges and rewards within the foster care system.

“What became very apparent to me is the sheer number of kids that are in this system,” Dimity said.

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“When I dig deeper and spoke to CEOs of different organisations, they said [the sector] is struggling.

“More carers are exiting than entering the system.”

Dimity found that many people assume children in foster care are “troubled teens” affected by trauma. However, while many come from complicated histories, the average age is six and a half years old.

“They’re actually just children in need of support and care and a stable environment,” Dimity said.

“They’re actually just children in need of support and care and a stable environment,” Dimity said.

“And that might be temporary until they can be reaffiliated back with their biological families or it could be for a longer period of time.”

Through Tim’s fictional experience, Dimity hopes we can overcome some of the stigma surrounding foster care and increase awareness of its benefits.

“How can we apply ourselves [to] helping or supporting not only foster carers, but maybe even entering into relationships with foster care kids as well?” Dimity said.

“A child may lose their laugh, but it is redeemable.”

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Listen to the full conversation in the player above.

Feature image: Dimity Powell