UPS and DOWNS is a beautifully illustrated picture book about a young girl, her brother, and their mother. Their mother is smart, knows three languages, and can sing opera. She reads them beautiful stories and loves them very much giving them lots of hugs and kisses. But she suffers from UPS and DOWNS. Some days she has so much energy that she is up all night doing laundry, some days she has no energy and spends the day in bed. Their mom suffers from Bipolar Disorder, a mental health disability that affects her mood and energy. Sometimes when their mom has low energy and is suffering one of her “down” days, the young girl and her brother must be more independent and make their own supper and their friends can’t come over to play. Her disorder is hard on everyone, but the children never doubt their mother’s love for a second.
In the author’s note, Nancy states that her “aim is that this book will shed light on an often-misunderstood illness and provide reassurance that love conquers all.” She “wrote it to show that even though there are sometimes big struggles when living with bipolar disorder, there is still hope. Bipolar disorder is a serious- but treatable- mental health disorder that nearly 400,000 Canadians and 2.3 million Americans have.”
She “wrote it to show that even though there are sometimes big struggles when living with bipolar disorder, there is still hope. Bipolar disorder is a serious- but treatable- mental health disorder that nearly 400,000 Canadians and 2.3 million Americans have.”
It is great to see books being published that tackle the subject of mental health with sensitivity and that these books are being made available to schools, daycares, and libraries. UPS and DOWNS by Nancy MacNairn is a wonderful educational tool to help children understand Bipolar Disorder or to understand what their peers may be experiencing at home and that their “normal” may be quite different.
Nancy MacNairn is a teacher and writer. She taught elementary school for many years in English and French. She is a passionate communicator who lives by her beloved ocean in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Doruntina Beqiraj is a children’s illustrator based in Toronto, Ontario. She has a passion for creating warm and charming characters and enjoys experimenting with textures and patterns. Her art is inspired by the magic of everyday moments.
Publisher: Second Story Press (September 3, 2024)
Hardcover 9″ x 9″ | 24 pages
ISBN: 9781772603866
Sue Slade has a Bachelor of Child Study from Mount St. Vincent University in Halifax. After working with children and adults with special needs, she now has her midlife dream job of working with books. Sue manages an independent, locally owned bookstore, Dartmouth Book Exchange. Through her charismatic sharing centred around books and community, Sue has created an engaging cornerstone for authors, customers, and book lovers of all ages. Sue is an avid reader and her reviews cross over many genres.