Read Write Inc. Comprehension: Since Dad Left by Caroline Binch

by Caroline Binch

Sid is cross. He feels cross a lot nowadays. He doesn't understand why his mum and dad don't live together any more. And when Sandra, his mum, tells him that she's arranged for him to spend some time with Mick, his dad, he doesn't want to go. Even if they try to make him, he won't speak to Mick.

Genres: Picture Books

Paperback

Reviews

[Chloe Turner · Rating 3 out of 5]

The title of the book made me want to read this book. I thought it could be a good book related to separation which many children experience. It could be good to use in a classroom but as a teacher you would need to be aware of any sensitive or new issues in the class. It may help children to talk about their experience or listen to the story to understand how Sid is feeling, which may help them. I thought it was interesting how Sid called his Dad by his first name but at the end called him Dad after they had a good time together. I liked the way the illustrations are done and how they take up a lot of the page. This could be used with children to discuss them. I was expecting there to be more dark colours due to the topic of the book but the illustrations are quite bright which is interesting. This book has lots of text which could be useful to read over a few days as it gives time to discuss.

[Amy Watson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting book and I liked the illustrations however I am not sure what I got from the story.

[Khansa Baig · Rating 3 out of 5]

A beautifully illustrated, sensitively written book, looking at both a child's feelings about divorce and the clash of cultures with a travellor life-style.

[Mathew · Rating 2 out of 5]

Binch has an almost photographic style with her paintings in which gesture and expression are always captured so well. In Since Dad Left, which follows the story of Sid whose parents have separated and his attempts to come to terms with this, this is important as it is characters which carry and convey their mood and relationships.

Living at home with his mum means that Sid sees less of his father yet there are signs that there is a great sense of bitterness and confusion on Sid's behalf as to why dad decided to leave. The reasons are left to the reader yet it could be interpreted that Sid's dad, possibly a New Age Traveller who lives in a bender, feels the call of a previous lifestyle and is not happy to peg down. Binch's depiction of the landscape is always beautiful and she rarely calls on it to help convey mood yet Sid's loneliness and confusion is still prevalent.

[Holly Payne]

Sid feels anger and frustration since his parent's split. The book explores how his dad leaving has affected his everyday life. How he feels like he fits in and does not at the same time. Every thing he does throughout the day, is described now with the impact of the dad leaving. In some instances this is good and others not.
When he finally meets his father after the split he doesn't know how to process his emotions. He soon realises that he can still have a strong relationship with his father and all the anger over things he has lost are still there.
It is a sensitive book as it picks up explicitly of the emotions of the boy after his parents have split. Equally a child going through something similar may be able to relate and understand his/her emotions better after reading this book.