What is Elijah to do? Elijah's brother Manny has been different lately. Not different in how he looks, or feels, or sounds. Just different in how he acts. Not to mention the big colourful clouds above his head! There are yellow ones, and red ones, and blue and purple too... Elijah has tried to make the clouds above Manny's head go away but they always seem to stay! Join Elijah and Manny as they find out more about mood disorders and discover how to support a friend or sibling with their difficult feelings. Ideal for ages 5+, the book also includes a short guide for adults with tips on supporting children impacted by mood disorders. Reviews: One of the hardest parts of coping with mental illness in your family is figuring out how to talk to your children about it, especially when it's one of the children who's having mental health problems. Lourdes Ubidia has written a book that's both honest about how scary and painful it is, and gentle enough to be a good resource for children. She writes from the perspective of a young boy whose brother has a mood disorder. This perspective allows readers to explore the needs of every family member, including those with a mental illness and those without, with respect and caring for everyone involved. "Mood clouds" are an accessible way to help a child begin to understand their different feelings and mood episodes. As a child grows, their family could easily transition from that to more adult language for the same experience. This is a great introductory lesson in how to include someone with mental illness as a full and loved member of the family. — Aimee Daramus, Psy.D., L.C.P. Author of Understanding Bipolar Disorder: The Essential Family Guide About the Author: Lourdes Ubidia is a New York born illustrator and animator. She graduated from The City College of New York and works as a children's book designer. When Lourdes isn't drawing, and no matter what colour her mood cloud is, she can be found dog walking on any given day. |