Please Don't Cry, Mom: A Book About Depression

by Helen Denboer, Janice G. Goldstein (Illustrator)

Because his mother is sad all the time, Stephen and his father learn about depression and how to cope with his mother's illness.

Genres: Picture Books

20 pages, Library Binding

First published February 1, 1994

Reviews

[Arin Brutlag · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book is written from the perspective of Stephen, a young boy whose mother has major depressive disorder. The story realistically portrays the familial reactions toward people with depression, including the confusion, anger, and mistaken idea that a person with depression can just snap out of it, or that they have no reason to be depressed because of the positive quality of their life. After she expresses the belief that she is a bad mother, Stephen’s father takes his wife to a psychiatrist. When Stephen’s mom has a good morning, but later goes back to bed, Stephen is confused and angry about why his mother isn’t better, despite having taken medicine. Stephen’s father explains more about depression, and in time, Stephen learns how to coexist with his mother when she has depression. The use of a child’s perspective is especially helpful when conveying the feelings of children whose parents have depression.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simply explained without sugar-coating the issue of depression.