When Milly is teased by the children in school about her father being in prison, she is horrified and hurt. But when she confronts her mum and gran, they admit that he isn't away working as she has been told. He has taken 'something that didn't belong to him', and he will be away a long time. Mum goes to school with Milly the next day, and explains the situation to the teacher, who handles the situation with great sensitivity. Milly wants to know if it is something she has done that has made dad go away, but mum is very reassuring that this is not the case. ' Remember that Dad is not a bad man, even though he's done something wrong.' Mum visits dad in prison, and when she returns, she says that he would like some pictures from Milly and her young brother Sam. (In the only mistake in this superb picture book, Milly is here called Jenny.) Some time later, mum takes Milly and Sam to the prison to see dad, and after going through security, they get lots of hugs and stories. Just for a little, Milly thinks 'it felt like home'. Dad is good at reading stories, and when a CD arrives a week later, the children are very pleased to be able to hear his voice reading to them. Christmas is sad without dad at home, but there is a party at the prison, and Milly and her family have their picture taken with Father Christmas. It is in the spring that dad comes home again, on Milly's birthday, and their reunion is a very happy one. The gentle pictures show us some of the bleakness of the prison, but also the warmth of a supportive and basically happy family. An excellent choice for children needing understanding about a parent in prison.