Mike Joins the Family by Frank (Jock) Drysdale

"Mike Joins the Family" by Frank (Jock) Drysdale and Julie Richards (Editor)  is a heart-warming children’s story that takes young readers on a journey through the beautiful city of Perth while sharing an important message: everyone has a special place and purpose.

About the Book

Follow Mike the Minibus as he navigates big emotions, hopes, and dreams while living among a fleet of larger buses. As a small bus in a big company, Mike often feels overshadowed by the bigger vehicles that carry more passengers and travel all around Perth.

Feeling a little sad and lonely, Mike wishes for more — more work, more passengers, and a greater sense of importance.

One day, surrounded by big and fancy buses, Mike is chosen for a very special job of taking VIPs (Very Important Passengers) around Perth city. As he takes his passengers on a ride, Mike begins to feel proud of himself and his role.

By the end of the day, Mike discovers that being small and ordinary isn’t a disadvantage at all. With the attention and appreciation he receives from his VIP passengers, he realises that everyone has their own unique value and together, they can become one happy family.

About the Author & Illustrator

Rev Frank "Jock" Drysdale was a teacher, sports coach and Uniting Church minister based in various regions in Western Australia over his lifetime.  He had a passion for literature, with his high school English teacher, Peg Allen, remaining a close friend until her death. Jock was a devotee of many Australian books and poetry, and despite a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s Disease in 1989, could still recite Banjo Paterson’s "Man from Snowy River” until only months before his passing in 2011.

Jock received an OAM in 1998 for his services to sport, youth, education (through Numero), the Church and the community.  He was a generous man, even gifting his invention of Numero to Alzheimer’s WA back in 1995 to ensure this charity benefited from Numero’s success.

He was a family man who adored his wife of over 50 years, his 6 children, 13 grandchildren and would have extended this love to the 21 great grandchildren.

Heather Eley, a niece of the author, is a self-taught watercolour artist from the Wheatbelt region of Western Australia, now based in Perth. She often escapes back to the country to soak up its tranquillity and wide-open spaces, finding inspiration for her photography and paintings along the way.

When not painting, Heather works for a not-for-profit organisation, enjoys a good coffee and loves spending time with her family.

In full, this product contains:

• 1x Mike Joins the Family Book - Frank (Jock) Drysdale

Additional Information:

• Paperback