Not Today, Celeste!: A Dog's Tale about Her Human's Depression - Hardcover

Stevens, Liza

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1785920081 ISBN 13: 9781785920080

Publisher: Jessica Kingsley Publishers, 2016

Synopsis

Celeste thinks she is the happiest dog in the world. But when she notices something different about her human, Rupert, she wonders if things will ever be the same again.

Charmingly illustrated, this heart-warming story for children aged 3+ reflects some of the feelings and experiences that a child whose parent or carer has depression may face. When it comes to periods of low mood in a parent or carer, children can often feel that they are to blame, or even that the parent doesn't love them anymore. The story provides reassurance by explaining what depression is and how it is possible to find help. With a comprehensive guide for parents and professionals written by Dr Pooky Knightsmith that provides advice on discussing the topic with children, this is a truly valuable resource that will be of interest to social workers, child and school counsellors, psychologists, parents and foster parents.

About this title

About the Author

Pooky Knightsmith is an autistic educator, speaker, author, and mental health trainer whose resources are widely used in schools. She is a parent to neurodivergent children, has a PhD in child mental health from the Institute of Psychiatry and is the former chair of the Children and Young People's Mental Health Coalition. Pooky has published many books with JKP including The Mentally Healthy Schools Workbook and Can I Tell You About Self-Harm? She is based in Sussex, UK.

Reviews

PreS-Gr 2—A canine's perspective on her owner's depression sparks dialogue about mental illness in this picture book import. Celeste is a happy dog who loves her human, Rupert. The young man provides her with everything she could want, from treats and cuddles to walks and plenty of playtime. Then one day, "something different" comes over Rupert, keeping him from enjoying his time with Celeste and even getting in the way of his ability to care for her. Celeste seeks out a neighbor, who approaches Rupert about getting help. Stevens's use of a pet as a stand-in for a child's experience works reasonably well—Celeste's inability to understand Rupert's problem mirrors a child's distance from the adult world, and it is the humans (adults) who take responsibility for addressing Rupert's illness. Readers see Rupert attending a support group, but the text focuses on Celeste's joy in returning to her routine with the owner she adores. Throughout, the author underscores the importance of understanding and naming emotions and implies that solutions for mental illness are adult concerns. Cartoon illustrations use plenty of white space to spotlight tender moments between Celeste and Rupert, and varied font sizes highlight emotional vocabulary. Rupert changes from full color to gray when he begins to feel depressed, and while his color has returned by the end, the text makes it clear that his depression hasn't gone away entirely. An extensive note written by a mental health specialist offers guidelines for sharing the book with young children and suggests ways to continue the conversation. Occasional Briticisms may sound odd to American ears but won't detract from the story. VERDICT A solid starting point for talking about mental illness, but adults should be prepared to clarify and deepen the discussion.—Chelsea Couillard-Smith, Hennepin County Library, MN

Edition details

• Publisher: Jessica Kingsley Publishers
• Publication date: 2016
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1785920081
• ISBN 13: 9781785920080
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 36