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A child touchingly narrates the ups and downs of living with a parent who experiences mental illness.
Sometimes Mom soars like a kite. Other times the kite turns into a sail, and she’s like a boat, bobbing along the waves, until water spills over the sides and she starts to sink. “I try to bail the water out,” the child says, “but my bucket is too small or has a hole in it.”
On a better day, Mom introduces the child to a "new friend" named Grace, a therapist. Grace explains that it’s not the child’s job to fix things. And Grace helps the child find coping strategies — talking, playing games and, especially, drawing as a creative outlet.
Gradually, the child begins to feel better when they’re at home with Mom, where there are plenty of crayons and the comfort of a beloved pet to cuddle.
But the child has one big question. At the end of the story, they ask if they will sink or soar when they grow up. And while no one knows for sure, the child believes Grace who suggests that they now have the tools to weather whatever storms might come.
Reviewed by a children's psychiatrist for authenticity. Includes an author's note and a list of resources and helplines for mental health.
Key Text Features
authors note
dialogue
illustrations
resources
vignettes
Correlates to the Common Core States Standards in English Language Arts:
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.2
Retell stories, including key details, and demonstrate understanding of their central message or lesson.
“Detlefsen has crafted a heartfelt meditation on the effects of mental illness on family members. ... A breath of fresh air for those seeking to explain mental illness to their little ones.” — Kirkus Reviews
“A sensitive, much‑needed exploration of parental mental illness for young readers. Compassionate storytelling and evocative illustrations make this a critical addition to library and classroom collections.” — School Library Journal
“Love ... radiates from the core of the story.” — Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
“My Mom Is Like a Kite ... offers a positive message about normalizing the need to reach out for help, all while giving children a tool to help manage their own feelings and fears — now and for the rest of their lives.” — Montreal Review of Books