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.
Also features exquisite watercolor illustrations and back matter spread explaining mood disorder.
Mamuś and her son love Kite Days. But conditions have to be right.
Sometimes the sun is shining, the breeze is blowing, and the day is calling… But it's still not a Kite Day.
Sometimes the clouds roll in, and the wind is too strong… And they still try for a Kite Day.
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.
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.
“Is today a kite day?” I ask Mamuś. Her smile is a blossom unfolding. “Let’s go and see,” she says.
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.
Thank you so much to Moon & Bird and Netgalley for the ebook to read and review.
A delicate and very creative story about mood disorders in a parent. The story follows a little boy and his Mamuś who is having a good day, together they go fly his kite. He doesn’t get to fly his kite every day though, as some days it doesn’t work and some when his Mamuś can’t fly it makes him a little angry, but he knows the kite days will come back, they always do.
I really loved the symbolism with the kite, it turned the mood disorder to a real thing a child can see, from the sunny days when it’s happy and his Mamuś goes to play outside with him, to the days she tries to push herself but it’s really difficult, to the days that she cannot do a thing at all so the kite lays there broken waiting to be patched together again. It was really wonderfully created and is a great way to show a child about mood disorders.
The illustrations were great to showcase the moods also, seeing as the seasons changed, how her mood changed. Because though mood disorders don’t change due to the seasons they have their very own seasons from a good patch, an I can do things patch, to this is a struggle path and lastly to the I literally cannot do anything patches. I really loved how it was illustrated to showcase that and all the stages that came with it.
A very beautifully delicately done book, filled with lots of symbolism. It’s great for children to learn about, and is a great resource and possibly even a comfort read for children that have a family member that struggles with a mood disorder. It also had extra information in the back of the book sharing more details about mood disorders.
"I don't ask if today is a kite day.. Mamuś's smile is hidden, a seed buried waiting to bloom again.."
Thank you to Moon + Bird Publishing and Netgalley for allowing me to read and review this book.
Kite Day by Lisa Varchol Perron is a cozy and heartfelt picture book that explores what it feels like to grow up with a parent who struggles with mood disorder. Through the simple yet powerful metaphor of flying a kite, the story beautifully captures the emotional ups and downs a child might experience.
The lyrical writing feels soft and thoughtful, allowing young readers to understand complex emotions in a safe and comforting way. The watercolor illustrations by Siski Kalla are expressive and full of feeling, adding depth to the story’s quiet but powerful moments.
What makes this book especially meaningful is how it shows both the difficult days and the hopeful ones. One particularly touching moment shows a torn kite being stitched back together, mirroring how life slowly begins to mend when the mother reaches out for help and reconnects with the world around her.
With helpful back matter explaining "mood disorders" in child-friendly language, Kite Day is not only a beautiful story but also a valuable resource for families and educators who want to open conversations about mental health.
A compassionate and important picture book about love, resilience, and supporting one another through life’s ups and downs.
This picture book is illustrated with soft colors and a gentle feel, and the story follows a young boy who wants to fly kites with his mother. The story uses kite-flying weather as a metaphor for the mother's mental health. At times, she is happy and engaged with her son, and the weather is just right for flying kites. Other times, she is depressed, listless, and distant from him.
The author's note explains the mental health connection, but the story itself never identifies this issue directly. Overly literal children may struggle with the metaphor, since the mother's moods and behaviors wouldn't really be linked to whether or not it's a good day for flying a kite.
The author's note shares insights about mood disorders and mentions some practical tips children can use when they're struggling with a parent's mental health issues. I personally felt that this was too little, too late. The story itself shows the boy walking on eggshells, with his life dictated by his mother's mental states. The story could have conveyed a much more positive message by explaining what is going on, showing that it's not his fault, and identifying what he can do to help himself cope.
I received a temporary digital copy from NetGalley, and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
Thoughts: received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. This is a great book to help little kids get their heads round and accept the adults in their lives. The book is marketed as addressing adults in children's lives with mental health problems but most of it also applies really well to disabled people too, especially those who have a Dynamic Disability. It’s cool to take something that is so abstract like mental health and explain it in a way that children can not only understand but have also likely experienced themselves before. I also really liked the little bit of advice at the end that not only explained a mood disorder but tells kids what they can do if they’re worried about someone they love too so they feel less hopeless in bad spells.
Favourite Quote: “I wait, too - for my hope to build - but worry presses at my chest, anger rises in my throat, and sadness stings my face. I look for ways to show mamuś I love her, and to remind myself that she loves me.”
Kite Day by Lisa Varchol Perron is an absolute rhyming delight that perfectly captures the magic of a breezy spring afternoon. With its rhythmic prose and vibrant energy, it’s a picture book that begs to be read aloud.
Why it’s a winner: Lyrical Perfection: The rhyme and meter are flawless, making it a "storytime superstar" that keeps toddlers and preschoolers engaged from start to finish.
Sensory Storytelling: Perron doesn’t just tell you about the wind; she uses words that make you feel the "snap," "swish," and "soar" of the day.
Gorgeous Illustrations: The artwork is bright, cheerful, and full of movement, perfectly mirroring the upward trajectory of a kite in flight.
Sweet Themes: Beyond the fun, it’s a gentle celebration of patience, perseverance, and the simple joy of outdoor play.
Final Verdict: This is a modern classic for the spring season. It’s short, sweet, and soaring with charm—a perfect addition to any home or classroom library.
Quite the powerful evocation of moodswings, as two females enjoy kite-flying. They enjoy it on a good day, and much less on a damagingly bad day – and might or might not be aware of how bad an idea it is on an exceedingly good day (the so-called "too-bright times"). With a distinctive Eastern European flavour (in the soup mentioned, and the bedtime stories referenced), and with fine artwork, it has every chance of making itself known amongst the many mental health picture books on the market. Yet there is a chance people turn against the pathetic fallacy of the mood matching the seasons as we pass through the year, and many of the jumps in the calendar aren't nearly as obvious in the brief text as needed. So four stars are my maximum, however impactful this actually proved to be. I really hope it helps those who need it.
This beautifully written and important book will help young readers faced with a parents' depression, or as the author, Lisa Varchol Perron writes, their "mood disorders." The unnamed main character, a young boy, experiences the ups and downs of life with a mother who suffers with such a disorder. As expected, there are difficult moments, but they are tempered by the good moments, too. On one poignant spread, the illustrations (by artist Siski Kalla) display a lovely parallel with the text that shows as their kite is stitched back together, so are their lives when the mother shares her feelings with others, reengages with daily life, practices yoga, and receives help from others. An important book!
Review to be added to Amazon UK and US on 21 April 2026 - publication day!
The book explains what it can be like for people with mood disorders and the ups and downs of mental health. Every day can potentially be different, these days can be stressful and confusing but the book helps to explain what it can be like, using in the book the change of the seasons which affects whether they can do kite flying that day or not. I suffer with my mental health at time and it is books like this that are great to explain to my daughter how some days I can feel up or down. The story is well written and easy to follow. The illustrations in the book were great, they were nice, bright and colourful and help bring the story to life. It is 5 stars from me for this one - very highly recommended!
A beautiful and powerful look at mood disorders and a child navigating a grown-up's mental health. The story is told with so much empathy and understanding for both the child and the grown-up experiencing mental health struggles. It is written in a metaphorical and poetic way without being too on-the-nose, and will help give children the opportunity to explore their complicated and confusing feelings. The illustrations are expressive and also help communicate the feelings experienced in this book.
A wonderful resource that will help open up important conversations about mental health and how we can support each other through life's ups and downs.
I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of Kite Day, and it is a beautiful must read for anyone who loves someone with a mood disorder. The mom's bipolar disorder cycle is perfectly personified with a kite, sometimes flying steady, and other times taking sharp turns up or down. What I really loved about this book was the emphasis on the child and his feelings throughout this cycle. It shows kids that being angry at, embarrassed by, or worried for their loved one with a mood disorder is natural, but also takes great care to emphasize that the loved one is NOT their disorder. Definitely recommend to anyone looking for a way to broach the topic of mood disorders with children.
KITE DAY is an important and evocative picture book that offers young readers an honest yet hopeful look at living with a parent who has a mood disorder. Through beautifully written, lyrical text, the author uses the gentle metaphor of flying a kite to capture the emotional highs and lows that come with bipolar disorder. The gorgeous watercolor illustrations are expressive and perfectly complement the story’s emotional depth. The author’s note and thoughtful back matter explain mood disorders in child-friendly language. This is a wonderful book for families navigating mental health challenges.
Kite Day is a beautiful book that tackles an incredibly important subject with subtlety and poignance. Readers are taken on a journey through the seasons with a young boy who enjoys flying a kite with his Mamus (mother). At first, Mamus is enthusiastic during a park outing, and then overly so—causing embarrassment for her son. Then, we see symptoms of Mamus's mood disorder unfolding: the kite is damaged, and it remains broken until her mood lifts once more. Perron's stunning, lyrical text, paired with Siski Kalla's soft watercolor illustrations make this an essential addition to collections everywhere.
Mamuś, her son and their dog, love kite days, but is today a kite day ? It's sunny, the sky is so blue, let's go ! Here goes the kits, flying high, as they breathe a sweet breeze.
The illustrations are very simple. We can feel a lot of love between the characters, the way they care for each other, and in the words. The atmosphere is gentle and caring. The writing is sensitive and rich in vocabulary.
Another day comes, it's very hot today. Mamuś looks overjoyed, and full of energy. He has to run to follow her. Our little boy tries to keep up with his mom. She seems very excited for kite day today. But he's tired. And out of breath...
"She tightens, tightens, tightens the bow line and tosses me the sail. Worry presses at my chest. We've had too-bright times before."
We don't all live at the same pace, our emotions are sometimes out of sync, moods change from person to person. It's human nature. And sometimes it feels like a lot.
And then, the sky turns gray and the trees leaves become orange and fall. Mamuś has a crease between her eyes. It's not a kite day today. Even less tomorrow, as winter sets in. It's so cold and silent.
"Icy branches stand bare and the air fills with stillness. My wet face stings in the cold. I don't ask if today is a kite day. Mamuś's smile is hidden, a seed buried, waiting to bloom again."
Seasons passing as an imaged metaphore of the feelings we can feel. In the book weather, seasons are used to illustrate and express the changes in mood and mental state.
It's a very visual story. The weather and the condition of the kite reflect the mom's mental state, its different phases, the emotions following our characters. Ups and downs, good and bad moments.
Some people have mood disorders, and sometimes all they need is time. Time, support, gentleness, understanding and patience. The author writes : "I feel strongly that no one needs to be ashamed or secretive about mental health struggles."
And it's okay to feel sad about it, to feel frustration. It's okay that things cannot be okay all the time. Because you cannot control it. Neither can the people who are struggling with it. But you can chose to wait, think and be present or patient for this person. It's normal to feel worry and hope at the same time. As the little boy reminds himself of beautiful memories, and the love there is between him and his mom. "We'll have another kite day soon."
Kite day is an educational and sensitive book about mood disorders. And it gives out the reader some helpful suggestions, about how to deal with it, and validating your emotions. That you don't have to be alone.
Thank you to Moon + Bird and Netgalley for the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you #NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC read of #KiteDay in return for my honest review and opinion.
Kits day is a story about different moods and how people seem to change moods with the changes or seasons or just anytime in general. The back of the book has some educational information on all of it. The story itself if read without explanation behind the mental disorder fell a little short and was a little boring. But if you read as a teaching moment and dive into the educational aspect along with it would make sense. It was a very enjoyable story.
This is a beautifully written story of a boy growing up with a mother who struggles with a mood disorder. I love how it still highlights all of the mother's wonderful qualities, while at the same time showing her changing moods, which greatly effect the boy. I think this is a wonderful conversation starter for any child that has a family member struggling with mental health. As someone who has a close family member with a mood disorder I think this is a great place to start in discussing this with children. With soft pictures and lovely, lyrical text, this story is a great introduction.
Kite Day is a beautiful and important story about a child navigating the highs and lows of their mother’s mood disorder. Told with sensitivity and compassion, this gentle story offers readers the comfort, support and permission they need to begin discussing their complicated feelings. Back matter offers a note from the author about her personal experience with family members as well as more information about what mood disorders are and what to do if you’re worried about a loved one.
A sensitive story that validates the many emotions a child may experience if they have an adult (or any person) in their life struggling with mental illness and/or mood disorders. The kite-flying theme is clear and relatable and sheds helpful insights into the often-confusing ups and downs an illness like this can bring to daily life. I appreciated the compassionate, nonjudgemental tone and the warm and expressive kid-friendly illustrations.
A young boy cycles through the seasons with his mother, while she cycles through visibly changing moods. As they navigate the ups and downs, we also feel the love that is there no matter what. So important for readers! Author and psychotherapist Lisa Varchol Perron strikes the perfect tone, one both honest and respectful, as she brings this particular type of mental struggle to life. Concrete information on mood disorders, along with hopeful and helpful advice, is there for readers at the end.
Kite Day beautifully and delicately explores the ups and downs of mood disorders while honoring all feelings and providing actionable strategies and hope for young readers who may be having a similar experience. I am so impressed with the care in which Lisa has approached this story. She has crafted the perfect analogy to make this topic understandable for young readers while also providing valuable back matter to further support families.
Beautiful, honest, and accurate portrayal of living with a loved one with mental health struggles. As someone who grew up with a bipolar parent, this spoke to my experiences and felt so warm and comforting to read. With lovely writing, gorgeous use of metaphor, and heartfelt, soft illustrations, this book is a MUST-READ for any kid or adult who experiences mental health struggles or knows someone who does.
With great care and age-appropriate honesty, KITE DAY depicts kite-flying as a strong and pliable metaphor for mood disorders (as shared in the author’s note)—with its unpredictability, elements you just can’t control, and the seesawing high & low emotions that come with it. This book deals with a heavy topic in a gentle, heartwarming way. The vulnerability in these pages cracks open possibilities for rich and deep discussions.
This is such a thoughtful and sweet book. It shows a parent struggling with a mood disorder and handles the topic in such a sincere, reassuring, and kid-appropriate way. The story of a kid and mom sometimes being able to have fun kite days together, and sometimes finding it too difficult, is the perfect canvas for the bigger message. And it shows kids that even when things are hard or confusing, they are still loved. I would absolutely recommend this book for homes, schools, or even counselors offices.
As a teacher, I loved the representation of emotions changing and mental health through the actions of the kite--especially when it was sewed back together stitch by stitch. I really loved the line "The stitching is obvious, it can't be hidden," reminding kids that they don't need to hide how they feel or be ashamed. I have not seen many books about Mood Disorder and Lisa does a beautiful job of highlighting this in a child-friendly and lyrical way.
When someone we love struggles with a mood disorder, it affects us too. This book, written by a mental health professional explores this concept naturally and gently. Excellent backmatter also provides next steps for anyone who's struggling with a family member with mental health issues. Soft, gentle illustrations echo the text without either softening the effects of mental illness on the child in the story. Real and raw, but still gentle and hopeful.
A tender and reassuring story that explores what it's like for a child to live with a parent who has a mood disorder. It's a wonderful resource, offering comfort and understanding both for families navigating similar struggles and for anyone who wants to understand this experience. An empathetic and vital book.
This gentle, yet powerful book helps kids and their adults talk about the challenging and confusing reality of living with a caretaker with a mood disorder. Threaded with kindness, compassion, and tools for young readers, this book is a must read for anyone navigating conversations about mental health with young readers.
Written by a psychotherapist, this picture book explores what it's like for a child when a caregiver struggles with mood disorders. Gentle repetition and story patterns help make an abstract concept more concrete, as does the kite-flying metaphor throughout. Back matter offers more information, including an important section about what to do if worried about a loved one.
This story is a perfect window into understanding what it’s like to live with someone who has a mood disorder. Readers will be able to empathize as they see the child’s feelings in response to his mother’s shifting moods. The story validates the child’s experience and offers a beautiful metaphor to help readers know that there is support for them in difficult times.
This is a beautiful, quiet story of a child navigating life with a parent struggling with a mood disorder. It's sad, but also sweet, hopeful and informative. The layers of kite flying and the seasons are woven throughout expertly. Perfect for sparking important conversations with children about mental health.
I really liked the illustrations, but not the story. Basically, it showed the journey of a child who had to walk on eggshells because an adult needed professional help. It's not a child's job to care for an adult. Maybe if the book was aimed towards adults and how they could help a loved one, I would have responded more positively to the book. Sorry.