By Casey Neill
Penny O’Loughlin’s latest picture book is championing the kids with ‘different’ brains and bodies.
Cartwheeling Sally and Jumping Jack Jim follows two children who just can’t sit still, no matter how hard they try.
Their bodies have a mind of their own – until the time comes when their skills are needed to save the day.
“I was a Cartwheeling Sally. I was always upside down,” Penny said.
“There were no books about heroing these different brains and these different bodies, and having a giggle.
“The book seems to be resonating as a way to spark conversations around understanding and compassion, particularly for kids who find it hard to sit still.
“Their impulsivity and their hyperfocus give them the skills and no fear to race in.
“They’re the firefighters, the people who get up on stage, the creative thinkers. The people who dare.”
Penny has shared the story at several schools, incorporating breathing exercises and chats about the book’s themes into her visits.
“I say to them, ‘If we all had the same brains and bodies, how boring would life be?’” she said.
“Not everybody has the same brain as you and thinks the same way. Some people need to move more and can’t sit still.
“What it does affect is confidence, which affects self-worth. Self-confidence and worth are the pinnacles for learning.
“Take a moment of pause and a breath of compassion before you respond and judge.”
Mum Dushani invited Penny to speak at her son’s school after discovering Cartwheeling Sally and Jumping Jack Jim.
“Their energy and constant movement, which might usually be seen as a challenge, actually became their strength,” she said.
“We felt her visit would inspire the students, show them that their energy and uniqueness are valuable, and spark a love of reading and storytelling.”
Dushani’s son Aidan “has some hyperactive behaviours”.
“We thought this book would be a great way to show him that his energy can be positive and even heroic,” she said.
“It helps kids see that their differences can make them special, and it reassures parents that energy and restlessness can be channelled in positive ways.”
Penny has two more books on the way this year: Snap and Spike, featuring a frightening-looking crocodile who struggles to make friends before finding a porcupine, and The Wonder of Walt, featuring a hypersensitive worm who teaches other insects how to communicate.
