Brandon and the Bipolar Bear: A Story for Children with Bipolar Disorder

by Tracy Anglada, Jennifer Taylor (Illustrator), Toby Ferguson (Illustrator)

Overview

Brandon and the Bipolar Bear is the winner of the About.com 2011 Reader's Choice Award for Favorite Special-Needs Children's Book. By reading the pages of this beloved book, children and adults alike receive a rare glimpse into the private feelings and fears of a bipolar child. Children with bipolar disorder frequently are able to identify with Brandon's moods as he cycles between depression and mania. When symptoms differ from those of the character, reading the book still opens dialogue about the illness. The book provides comfort as Brandon learns that he is not the only one who struggles with this inner turmoil. Children are educated along with the character as he learns what the illness is, how people get it and why there is hope for him to feel better. This story is appropriate for children between 4 and 11 years of age. However, it will also be indispensable to parents, health care workers, teachers, grandparents and anyone else who cares about a child with bipolar disorder. Brandon and the Bipolar Bear has increased understanding and awareness of this serious illness for the past decade and will continue to do so in the coming years.

Product Details

BN ID:	2940013888517
Publisher:	BPChildren
Publication date:	12/11/2011
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	24
File size:	5 MB
Age Range:	6 - 8 Years

About the Author

Tracy Anglada is an award-winning mental health writer and the founder and Executive Director of BPChildren. Anglada's books have been recommended as resources by Harvard Graduate School of Education, The American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, The National Alliance on Mental Illness, The Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance, The Child & Adolescent Bipolar Foundation, The Juvenile Research Bipolar Foundation, BPMagazine, Scholastic Online, Canadian Mental Health Association, Children's Physician Network, Children's Mercy Hospital, The International Society for Bipolar Disorders, and many more.

Editorial Reviews

This is an absolutely wonderful book that provides parents an opportunity to help their children with bipolar disorder understand the illness in language that is child friendly and truthful. The illustrations are absolutely beautiful, they depict the depth of emotions that are seen in this illness with unbelievable detail. This book is a MUST HAVE for every child with bipolar disorder and a wonderful addition to every home library.

Donna Gilcher

This is the first fictional story available for children about early-onset bipolar disorder. Children will follow (and relate to) Brandon's experience with rapid mood swings, irritability, his sense of always being uncomfortable, and his sadness that he can't control himself and that no one can fix him. The comforting explanation of bipolar disorder that Dr. Samuel gives him makes Brandon feel not alone, not bad, but hopeful that the medicines will make him (and his Bipolar Bear) feel better.

Janice Papolos