We’re delighted to announce the upcoming release of Our Dance: Living Apart, Time Together – the first UK picture book to introduce child contact centres to young readers. This important project is the result of a collaboration between Nottingham-based author and illustrator Circle Yuen, NACCC, and independent children’s publisher Graffeg.
The book, which will be published on 3 June 2025, sensitively explores themes of family change, co-parenting, and the vital role child contact centres play in supporting children and families after separation.
Heartfelt and beautifully illustrated, Our Dance follows a child as they experience the rhythm of life with parents living apart, using dance as a metaphor for navigating change.
Supporting a Vision
Inspired by Circle’s personal experiences and the profound impact of child-focussed co-parenting, Our Dance was developed to help children navigate family transitions with hope and understanding. It also aims to raise awareness of child contact centres as safe, supportive spaces where children can maintain relationships with non-resident parents following separation.
During her research and development, Circle reached out to NACCC – and we were delighted to support such a fantastic initiative!
We provided insight into how accredited child contact centres operate and how they could be portrayed in a reassuring way. We also arranged for Circle to present her project to professionals working in our accredited centres across the country, enabling her to gather valuable feedback.
Circle Yuen said:
Working with NACCC has been one of the most meaningful parts of creating Our Dance. From the start, they saw this not just as a story, but as a vital resource to support children navigating family change. Their professional advice and generous support helped shape my creative process – especially in developing the key spread that introduces the child contact centre. Their insight helped me portray these spaces visually and emotionally as warm, safe, and reassuring, which proved invaluable. I’m proud to collaborate with an organisation that puts children’s wellbeing at the heart of everything they do. Our Dance has a purpose beyond the pages, and I hope it proves useful to children, separated families, and the professionals supporting them.
A Shared Commitment to Children and Families
NACCC oversees around 300 child contact centres across the UK, ensuring accredited centres deliver safe, welcoming, and supportive environments where children can maintain crucial connections with parents and family members during times of change and transition.
Elizabeth Coe, NACCC CEO, commented:
It has been a pleasure to work with Circle Yuen and the team at Graffeg on Our Dance. This beautifully illustrated book offers a moving and insightful perspective on a young child’s experience of parental separation. It highlights the vital role that accredited child contact centres play in helping children maintain meaningful relationships with parents and family members they no longer live with. We are incredibly proud to collaborate on this unique and heartfelt project, which not only raises awareness of the importance of safe, supportive, and welcoming environments for children navigating family change, but also serves as a valuable resource to help ease transitions for families. We hope it brings comfort, understanding, and reassurance to children and families going through similar experiences.
Graffeg: Bringing the Vision to Life
Wales-based independent publisher Graffeg, known for their high-quality, illustrated children’s books, acquired worldwide rights to Our Dance. From the moment they received the manuscript, they recognised its power to connect with readers on an emotional level.
Matthew Howard, Publishing Director at Graffeg, said:
A mesmeric weaving of illustration and text, Circle’s manuscript haunted us from the minute she sent it in. She treats a difficult subject with compassion and sensitivity, opening the reader up to experiences that are both raw and personal. This is a dance between book covers, and we’re delighted to be the ones chosen to publish it.
Circle Yuen said:
“Collaborating with Graffeg Publishing on Our Dance has been an incredibly meaningful experience. I believe Graffeg is the ideal home for this book, given their expertise in socially engaged projects and their experience with picture books that address sensitive topics.”
Launch Activities and Exhibition
To mark the launch of Our Dance, Circle has been selected as one of fifteen artists to showcase her work in three Inspire libraries – Beeston, Mansfield, and Retford – as part of the Open Studio Notts: Bringing Artists into View exhibition, which runs from 26 April to 8 June 2025.
Her original illustrations from Our Dance will be exhibited, alongside a physical copy of the book, limited edition prints, and promotional materials.
Circle will also be showcasing her work at the Summer Craft Fair at Nottingham Contemporary, taking place from 6 – 8 June 2025.
About the Book
Our Dance: Living Apart, Time Together
A beautifully illustrated picture book about separation and resilience, using the metaphor of dance. The book highlights the vital role of child contact centres across the UK.
A young girl loves to dance, especially when Daddy and Mummy dance with her, but these dances don’t last long. One evening, Daddy leaves home and Mummy explains that they are separating and the family won’t be dancing together anymore.
During the week the young girl lives with Mummy and on Saturdays she visits Daddy at a child contact centre. The family now have two new dances, each one different but both as valuable as the other.
Publication Date: 3 June 2025
Available to pre-order from: Graffeg Books
About the Author
Circle Yuen is a Hong Kong-born author and illustrator based in Nottingham. A graduate of the Cambridge School of Art’s MA in Children’s Book Illustration, Circle’s work centres on themes of family, resilience, and social justice, offering hope and comfort to young readers navigating difficult times.
Her work has previously been chosen for the dPictus Unpublished Picturebooks Showcase and has been longlisted for the Illustrators Exhibition at Bologna Children’s Book Fair in 2024.
More information: www.circleyuenlokling.com
Photo credit: Neil Pledger
About Graffeg
An independent publisher based in Wales, Graffeg produces and publishes children’s and illustrated books with a strong team of authors, illustrators, designers and photographers.
We believe great content, good design and high-quality production values make our books stand out. Our wonderful authors and illustrators include Jackie Morris, Nicola Davies, James Mayhew, Joyce Dunbar, Max Low, Julia Hubery, Dom Conlon, Anastasia Izlesou and many more.
More Information: graffeg.com
About NACCC
The National Association of Child Contact Centres (NACCC) is a UK charity and umbrella organisation overseeing around 300 child contact centres across the country. Staffed by 3,000 professionals and trained volunteers, NACCC-accredited centres provide safe, neutral, and welcoming spaces where more than 21,000 children each year can spend quality family time with non-resident parents and other family members following separation.
NACCC sets national standards, delivers ongoing training, and ensures best practices through a rigorous accreditation process. Recognised by UK courts and Cafcass, NACCC plays a crucial role in safeguarding children and supporting their emotional wellbeing during family transitions.
More information: www.naccc.org.uk