Children's book connects disability and ecological diversity
By Anchel Krishna
Finding a book that brings together concepts about diversity, the different ways our amazing brains work, interdependence and nature is a rare convergence that can make us all feel a sense of belonging. Roz MacLean, a Canadian author and artist, manages to do just that with her book Together, A Forest. This is a visually rich book, with diverse characters and text that weave together concepts of neurodiversity, disability and biodiversity. We had the book on our coffee table. My eight-year-old daughter kept returning to it, reading a page or two at a time, taking it in slowly. She often paused to study the artwork, noticing characters that reminded her of herself and her sister, who uses a wheelchair. I had the opportunity to chat with MacLean.
BLOOM: Can you tell us a little bit about your book Together, A Forest?
Roz MacLean: Together, A Forest, follows the lead character of Joy and her classmates as they go a field trip into an old growth forest. They have an assignment to pick one thing to draw. Through that each character finds the part of the forest that they connect to that mirrors some part of themselves. The book is really about each kid finding themselves in the forest. It comes together so neurodiversity and disability are reflected in the ecological diversity of a forest.
BLOOM: Could you share why there was a need for a book like this?
Roz MacLean: Ableism is very present. There’s still an element of segregation that exists in schools and socially for people with disabilities. This removes people with disabilities from our collective imagination. When people without disabilities don't have experiences connecting with people with disabilities, they might not carry that population in their imagination. That’s why I feel passionately about making books like this.
BLOOM: What are some messages you hope children take from the book?
Roz MacLean: As kids, we spend time in schools and that can be space where it does feel like there's one right way to be. If you're outside of that then you might feel like you there's something wrong with you. I want kids to know that there isn't just one right way to be. There are different ways of thinking or existing in a body, which are natural and normal. I want people to feel a sense of belonging. I wanted to bring nature and the forest into the book because I also feel like when we are part of nature, it brings a feeling of belonging.
One of the parts of the ecological diversity parallel I like is that each part plays a role. Different elements like grass, trees, moss and fungi need to work together. People bring a variety of ways of being and it makes us stronger. We are interdependent, we do lean on each other and exist in context with each other. There are a lot of gifts in that.
BLOOM: There are a lot of characters in the book. Why was this an important feature of the story?
Roz MacLean: There’s an undervaluing in everybody giving what they can, showing up piece by piece. It’s not always heroic and dramatic and exciting, but it is how a lot of work needs to be done. I wanted to focus on how we're affected by the people around us and that's what shapes this story. Joy’s story is interwoven with all her classmates and each role is really important.
BLOOM: How did you get interested in writing and illustrating children's books that relate to disability and differences?
Roz MacLean: Writing about disability felt important from my role in schools [Roz has worked as both an educational assistant and intervenor]. A big focus of that role was on communication and communication systems. There was such variety in communication systems and how people communicate. I felt it would be really cool if there was a book that could be a resource for this conversation [Check out MacLean's book More than Words].
BLOOM: Your author's note mentions you have a brother with an intellectual disability. What was that experience like growing up for you?
Roz MacLean: My brother is four years older than me, and we have a very loving relationship. My whole family is accepting and advocacy-oriented around disabilities. In our family the challenges that my brother came across were not individual problems, but system problems. The ideas of advocacy, differences and fairness were introduced early. It enabled me to spend time with people who just had all sorts of different disabilities. I understood that it is common that someone might process things differently than me.
BLOOM: How does having a brother with a disability inform the way you write?
Roz MacLean: The content of what I write about is a big one. It shaped what topics are important to me and what I focus on. The foundational people in your life are always on your mind so that’s part of it. My brother is very proud of me and it's kind of funny because I asked if he would like to collaborate on a story or book sometime and he was just “No, thanks. That’s not for me.” He’s happy I am doing it, but it’s not his thing
BLOOM: What is the greatest challenge of producing a children's book?
Roz MacLean: It is a lot of hunkering down, self-directed work and discipline. Because the book represents so many different lived experiences there was a big question about how to do this ethically and responsibly. I did a lot of research and learning on my own, and worked with a team of authenticity readers, who gave feedback and input.
BLOOM: What was the greatest joy?
Roz MacLean: I really love smooshing paint together and when I get into that flow state, there’s a sweet spot where it can feel very messy and then it comes together. And then I feel a lot of affection for my characters. Those moments can be really nice.
BLOOM: What reactions have children and adults had to this book?
Roz MacLean: It’s been really positive. A friend of mine runs a local bookstore. She overheard her kid reading the book in a different room. When he was reading one of the pages he was like “Oh, that’s me!” That feels like a win.
Roz MacLean is the author of Together, A Forest and More than Words. She expects to launch more books in 2026. Like this content? Sign up for our monthly BLOOM e-letter, follow BLOOM editor @LouiseKinross on X, or @louisekinross.bsky.social on Bluesky, or watch our A Family Like Mine video series.
