Susannah Crispe is an Australian children’s author and illustrator with a passion for animals, art and adventure. Susannah writes and illustrates her books from a light-filled studio in Canberra, drawing inspiration from her adventurous son, cluttered bookshelves and the world beyond her windows. As an illustrator, she works in watercolour and digital collage to produce beautiful scenes brimming with detail.
Susannah was born in Wellington, New Zealand, but grew up in Australia. Her favourite thing to do is travel and explore; highlights include polar bear spotting at the North Pole, canoeing down the Amazon River, ghost hunting in New Orleans, and encountering ancient gods deep underground in Bolivia. She studied art history and zoology at university and enjoys volunteering with native wildlife throughout Australia. She worked in museums and bookstores for many years, until discovering her true passion for creating books.
Patrick and Dad learn how to cope with their grief together in this beautifully illustrated, uplifting story about resilience, connection, and growth.
When Patrick suffers a huge loss, he finds comfort in holding an acorn that drops at his feet. The more acorns he collects, the less empty he feels… but soon there are acorns hiding in cupboards, under the rug, and even in Dad’s work shoes. As the tide of acorns grows, Patrick’s belongings are buried under them, until all he has is… perhaps… too many acorns.
Join Patrick and Dad as they learn how to cope with their overwhelming grief together, rediscovering the things that make them happy while holding their memories close.
Through gentle language, illustrations and metaphor, Too Many Acorns explores big emotions in a way that is manageable and understandable for young readers. It is a heart-warming story about the ways we find to cope in the hardest times, perfect for sharing with little ones who are experiencing the loss of a loved one, or any other emotional upheaval.
