Mental Health is slowly being destigmatized in adult society and there is more dialogue and empathy for all levels of illness. Despite the availability of information and awareness, it remains a difficult subject matter for children to grasp. Whether it is a parent or a friend, it is only natural to attempt to minimize the matter in an effort to protect.
These books are great tools for parents and teachers to open communication on the topic and start important conversations about emotional weel-being.
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Written by Rachel Tomlinson, Illustrated by Tori-Jay Mordey
Coen is a young boy who wakes up “having a blue kind of day…” As the story progresses, his parents and sibling attempt to lift his spirits through various prompts and antics. However, the author tactfully presents this incident in a way that lets us know it is familiar to the family. This has likely happened before.
When their attempts fail, they realize that the only remedy is to patiently wait and provide closeness and comfort. Coen likely suffers from real depression and not simply an occasional case of the “blues”. This is an important distinction to make as peers of children with emotional disorders need to be aware of these conditions and that they are a serious as a physical ailment and force of will cannot simply correct the problem.
Beautifully rendered in desaturated colors fitting for the mood of the protagonist Coen.