Brandon and the Bipolar Bear: A Story for Children with Bipolar Disorder (Revised Edition) - Softcover

Tracy Anglada

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0981739636 ISBN 13: 9780981739632

Publisher: BPChildren, 2009

Synopsis

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.

About this title

From the Publisher:

Brandon and the Bipolar Bear was the first fictional story available for young children about bipolar disorder. The book is now also available in a revised version to keep up with advances in the field. It is hoped that this book will continue to bring comfort to young ones struggling with this serious illness.

Changes in the revised version include a positive statement about the abilities of people with bipolar disorder, a more complete treatment plan from the doctor including therapy and interventions at school and acknowledgement that children with bipolar disorder have difficulty accurately processing facial expressions.

From the Author:

A friend of mine once told me, "The more we know, the better we do." I believe this to be true of parents, like myself, sturggling to raise children with bipolar disorder. I also believe it to be true for the children themselves. It is to help these children 'know more' that I have written this story. My sincere wish is that, along with education, it will also bring hope, understanding and courage to these young hearts and minds.

About this edition

• Publisher: BPChildren
• Publication date: 2009
• ISBN 10: 0981739636
• ISBN 13: 9780981739632
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 24
• Illustrator: Jennifer Taylor, Toby Ferguson