We are Family: Six Kids and A Super-Dad, which is published next month, uses rhyming verse to tell the story of Oliver Sykes, his five siblings and their single dad.
It is illustrated by Carnegie medal-nominated Ian Morris.
In 1997, when Oliver was eight years old, his mum walked out, never to return.
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His father, Chris quit his job at a factory in North Derbyshire, where they lived, to pick up the reins at their three-bedroom council house.
Oliver, who moved to Denbigh a year ago, said: “My ‘super-dad’ was hot on discipline and ran a tight ship.
“We were up early every day to fit in breakfast, household chores, homework and paper rounds before school.
“He didn’t always get it right, like any parent, but we knew where we stood with him and always felt safe and cared for, which is the most important thing.”
Oliver hopes that young readers can recognise something of their own lives in his poems, particularly young people whose families may be struggling.
He said: “With austerity and the current cost of living crisis, unfortunately even larger numbers of young people will be experiencing the financial hardships that my family dealt with when my mum left.
“I hope in reading my poems they feel seen and less alone.
“My poems are full of hope and joy and love. I don’t look back on my childhood as a bad time as there was fun, comradery and love in abundance.
“There was never much money in the pot, but there was always love and laughter around the Sykes family table.”
We are Family: Six Kids and A Super-Dad will be released by Otter Barry Books on May 9.
Oliver has previously published two children’s picture books; Alfie’s First Fight, and the follow-up, Fishing For Rainbows.
