The Perfect Shelter

　　一開始，沒有人發現，我們都以為今天就跟昨天一樣，會是個適合跟姊姊一起玩，在森林裡搭一個我們專屬的祕密基地的一天。可是我發現姐姐變得跟平常不一樣，她看起來好累，也好安靜。當我們知道她生病了，壞消息像烏雲一般壟罩我們一家。沮喪和難過的心情就像暴風雨一樣，摧毀我和姊姊一起蓋的祕密基地。可是我知道我們不能被打倒，面對困難和挑戰我們還有彼此，我會和姊姊一起重新把祕密基地蓋回來！
 
　　這本書處理童書中少見的疾病主題，以及孩子如何面對家人生病的艱難時刻。溫柔的故事同理孩子複雜的心理感受，並展現家人之間的彼此支持和溫暖情感。

　　A powerfully told story from Clare Helen Welsh and Åsa Gilland that explores the emotions we feel when someone we love is battling a serious illness.

　　At first, nobody knew. It seemed as if today would be like yesterday forever, the perfect day to build a shelter in the woods. Then, my sister changed – she was more tired than before. More quiet. When we learn that she is sick, really sick, it feels as though a storm has engulfed our whole family. But, we will ride out this storm. And though today may be different from yesterday, today is the perfect day to build a shelter, together.

　　A heartwarming book that sensitively tackles the tough subject of illness with authentic and empathetic tenderness. Much like Michael Rosen’s Sad Book, A Shelter for Sadness or The Building Boy, The Perfect Shelter offers children a way to understand and articulate complex, often overwhelming, emotions.

Clare does her best writing by the sea, which is lucky because she lives with her family in South West England, a stone’s throw away from crashing waves and salty sea air. When Clare isn’t writing stories for children, she is inspiring children to write their own.

Åsa Gilland is a Swedish illustrator who lives in Indonesia with her husband, two boys and cats in a little house beneath a gigantic bougainvillea tree. She studied interior design in Italy and spent many years as a graphic designer before deciding to follow her passion for illustrating children’s books.