Tabitha Page is a New Zealand born author, living in Melbourne, Australia since 2010.
A keeper, reader and creator of books, taker of photographs and coffee drinker, Tabitha loves to make things (usually a big mess) but generally anything creative and artsy.
After living with autoimmune disease/chronic illness for many years and spending (far) too much time in hospital, Tabitha writes books for children about illness and disability so that people (big and small) will know that they are not alone when facing challenges.
She wants children to feel empowered and supported and wants to teach others about people with other abilities and foster understanding in children and young people.
Tabitha has self-published four children’s books to date and has numbers 5, 6 and 7 releasing in 2021/2022.
Please follow Tabitha Page at these links:
Website– www.tabithajeanpage.com
WHO wrote, illustrated and published this book?
The book – ‘I’m a Type One Kid’ was written and self-published by me (Tabitha J Page) and was Illustrated by the wonderful and talented Anna Kulieshova.
WHAT is it called and what is it about?
When Tina Thomas begins to feel unwell and cannot PLAY, RUN and JUMP as well as usual, she starts to get worried.
What is going on?
Tina is diagnosed with Type One Diabetes and is scared and confused, which are feelings that are normal and okay.
Mum, Dad and Tina are soon caught up in a new and scary world. It is a world of doctors, hospitals, medicine, needles and carbohydrates.
In this book, young Tina takes us through her diagnosis and her daily life with Juvenile (Type One) Diabetes, showing us how, with Mum and Dad’s help, she looks after herself and stays healthy so that she can PLAY, RUN and JUMP with her friends again.
What is your favourite part of this book?
I don’t have a favourite part; I adore the entire thing. It turned out exactly how I imagined it. If I had to choose, I do love one illustration/page so much; the page where Tina is in a meeting with a Diabetes nurse and is hiding her face with her jumper while everyone watches on, is so accurate and made me giggle.
WHEN is its release/launch date?
The book was published in early March 2021.
WHERE did the inspiration for this book come from?
When my younger brother was in primary school and after we lost my mother suddenly, he got really sick and I took him to the doctor many times as I felt something was very wrong. After a while, my brother was diagnosed with Type One Diabetes and so began his challenging journey. I did a lot of his care for many years and when thinking about writing a fifth book, I wanted to share my experience in helping him all things Type One. I wanted to be able to help children who are diagnosed and siblings, classmates, friends, etc as well. The aim is to empower, support, uplift, teach and bring awareness to this condition and those who come across it.
WHY is this book meaningful to you and why would its message resonate with readers?
My hope would be, that this book provides support and understanding to those children who are diagnosed with Type One Diabetes, while also teaching acceptance and understanding to those who are not diagnosed but do come in contact with children and adults who are. I would love for it to be good for all and for it to be used as a resource when speaking and teaching about day-to-day life with the condition.
It is meaningful to me because my brother and children of some of my friends have been diagnosed and I have seen first-hand how challenging and scary it is when you are diagnosed and as you learn to live with it.
HOW do you feel about the illustrations? Do they convey the feeling or mood you envisioned?
I adore the illustrations; Anna has once again done an amazing job conveying my message. Her illustrations are bright, clever and so accurate. I adore how she has gotten so many of the details perfect and they are just how I pictured them. The page that I love shows Tina pinching her tummy to give herself Insulin and the tiny rolls of skin that you would get when you did it.
It is just amazing, and I love Anna and her work so much.
How have you promoted this book and how can we find it?
I have done blog posts, given out advanced reader copies, done interviews, had people do shout outs, trailers, reviews, posts on all social media and will be doing press releases. I hope some of these things at least have helped get the word out.
You can find updates and release information on:
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/TPageWriter
Website– www.tabithajeanpage.com
Instagram– https://www.instagram.com/tab.tonks
Twitter- https://twitter.com/TPageWriter0
Email- tpagewriter@gmail.com
Thank you so much, Tabitha, for sharing your important story with us! 🙂
Thank you so much for having me, I appreciate it.
Have a great one 😊
Tabitha
#imatypeonekid #chronicillness #juvenilediabetes #thequicksixinterview
3 thoughts to “The Quick Six Interview with Tabitha Page and I’m a Type One Kid”
It is important to have books like this so children know they are not alone.
So true. And important for others to have an open mind, too! xx
Exactly!