Kite Day The Ups and Downs of Mental Health

By: Lisa Varchol Perron

Published by Watkins Media Limited (US, CA), 2026-04-21

<b>An evocative picture book for 3-6 years olds expressing the struggles a parent or guardian with Bipolar Disorder can experience as well as the strength and hope of their unconditional love.<br> <br>Also features exquisite watercolor illustrations and back matter spread explaining mood disorder.</b><br><br>Mamuś and her son love Kite Days. But conditions have to be right.<br><br>Sometimes the sun is shining, the breeze is blowing, and the day is calling… But it's still not a Kite Day.<br><br>Sometimes the clouds roll in, and the wind is too strong… And they still try for a Kite Day.<br><br>But when their string gets tangled and the light gets dim, they must stay inside and wait for their next chance at a Kite Day.<br><br>Navigating worry, anger, sadness and disappointment, Mamuś and her son fly their kite together. While her mood mirrors the kite’s motions – gently rising, twisting in the wind, tangling in a tree, and crashing to the ground – the pair continue to try. Despite the ups and downs, their love is, and will always remain, constant. <br><br><i>“Is today a kite day?”</i> I ask Mamuś.<br>Her smile is a blossom unfolding.<br><i>“Let’s go and see,”</i> she says.<br><br>An honest yet hopeful glimpse into a child’s experience with a parent who has bipolar illness or other mood-related struggles, including concrete suggestions for young readers who are concerned about a loved one, this is a key social and emotional learning (SEL) book for young readers and loved ones navigating a mental health illness.