Manny's Mood Clouds: A Story about Moods and Mood Disorders

by Lourdes Ubidia, Aimee Daramus (Contribution by)

Overview

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.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781839974953
Publisher:	Jessica Kingsley Publishers
Publication date:	01/19/2023
Pages:	48
Product dimensions:	8.50(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.39(d)
Age Range:	5 - 7 Years

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.

Editorial Reviews

The pictures are super... lots of bright colours on a basic white background. The information is age appropriate and well written, and the basically cheerful approach will very much appeal. Highly recommended.

HealthyBooks.co.uk

Ubidia's text is inviting and accessible, presenting and explaining the topics of emotions and mood disorders in a sensitive, educational way. The bright and colorful cartoon-style illustrations help convey the story and back matter includes further resources and information for caregivers, as well as suggestions for activities to help with certain moods.

oliviathelibrarian

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

An excellent addition to parenting and mental health collections as well as a useful resources for classrooms and families to help siblings and children understand their own and other's challenges.

Jean Little Library

This is a great resource to start a conversation with elementary kids about mental health and mood disorders. Elijah's brother Manny lives with a mood disorder that causes him to live with extreme and changing moods. Elijah explains these various moods in terms of clouds that follow Manny around, clarifying that while we all experience various moods, Manny's can be difficult to manage and can cause behavior issues. The tone is very matter of fact and accepting and there is a realistic portrayal of how treatment can help manage moods and provide coping tools, but doesn't just magically make the mood disorder go away. The skills guide for kids and resources for adults are both helpful. This would be a great addition to school libraries.

NetGalley reviewer

2022-11-29
How can Elijah support their brother Manny through his “mood clouds”?

Elijah’s older brother Manny’s emotions change quickly and are so big they seem like colorful clouds above his head: red when he’s angry; blue when he’s sad and wants to be alone; purple when “he is very panicked and scared of everything”; and yellow when he’s “so happy, that he doesn’t know what to do with himself.” Manny’s unpredictable mood shifts are hard on Elijah—“I get scared when I see his yellow cloud turn red without warning.” But with the help of their supportive parents, Manny’s therapist, and Manny himself, Elijah learns that “we can’t control the color of Manny’s clouds, but we can try and help him work through his feelings.” Examples of helpful activities that siblings can do together are matched with particular mood clouds, giving families ideas of how they can support loved ones who have mood disorders. Alongside Ubidia’s lively cartoon illustrations, this picture book sensitively frames Elijah’s process in understanding Manny’s mood disorder. With the focus on Elijah (depicted with brown skin and short, curly brown hair) rather than Manny (a brown-skinned boy with a high-top fade), this story is more ideal for family members than children with mood disorders themselves. Backmatter, written by licensed clinical psychologist Aimee Daramus, offers tips and resources for adults. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

Emphasizing connection and care, this book shines a thoughtful light on children with mood disorders. (Picture book. 4-8)

Kirkus Reviews