Abstract

Bronze Medal Winner in the Picture Books, Early Reader category of the 2015 Foreword Reviews' INDIEFAB Book of the Year Awards

Once upon a time there was a Princess. She had everything a little girl could ever want, and she was happy. That is, until the fog came...

The Princess and the Fog is picture book to help sufferers of depression aged 5-7 cope with their difficult feelings. It uses vibrant illustrations, a sense of humour and metaphor to create a relatable, enjoyable story that describes the symptoms of childhood depression while also providing hope that things can get better with a little help and support. The story is also a great starting point for explaining depression to all children, especially those who may have a parent or close family member with depression.

With an essential guide for parents and carers by clinical paediatric psychologists, Dr Melinda Edwards MBE and Linda Bayliss, this book will be of immeasurable value to anyone supporting a child with, or affected by, depression, including social workers, psychologists, psychiatrists, counsellors, arts therapists, pastoral care workers and school staff, as well as parents and carers.

This is a delightful picture book covering the sensitive subject of childhood depression... The author uses lively and colourful illustrations to chart the princess's journey through this personal crisis and reassures the reader that this can happen to anyone... The reader is provided with links to professional support services as well as advice for coping at home.This is a helpful resource for parents and for schools and approaches the subject in a child-friendly format.
Mary Mountstephen, author, editor
SEN Magazine
The author and illustrator of this splendid book, Lloyd Jones, is a sufferer from depression and knows whereof he speaks. His pictures are a delight, full of colour and drama and messiness (after all, depression is a messy condition), and there is humour too. It is unusual to find a picture book about depression in children, and Jones is to be lauded for this wonderfully put-together production!
HealthyBooks
An age-appropriate look at depression. Though this picture book opens with "Once upon a time," this is far from a typical princess book. The title princess loves to read books, ride horses, and play outside with her friends. Everything begins to change, however, when a fog, symbolizing depression, creeps in. Slowly, the princess feels sad and lonely, no longer enjoys the activities she once did, and doesn't want to leave her palace or see her friends. Her well-meaning parents try everything they can to make her smile, but nothing works. Eventually, a friend asks the princess if she wants to talk. By discussing her feelings, setting up daily challenges, and receiving advice from various people, the princess begins to feel better. The people in her life and the advice that she receives also help her deal with the dark clouds when they return. This title effectively conveys what depression feels like to children. The fairy tale-type story and the striking, dynamic illustrations, which use color to indicate the princess's changing mood, make a heavy topic accessible. A special author's note is included for caregivers on helping children with depression. VERDICT A good option for educating children about mental health, and a solid choice for caregivers who are struggling with depression and want to educate the younger members of their families about the topic.
School Library Journal
This is a creative and entertaining book that tackles a serious topic/issue that sometimes authors and writers shed away from or don't want to deal with. But depression is real and not only do adults deal with it but so do children and teenagers...I think this would be a great book to have in not only a special education classroom but also general education classrooms... Overall a great book.
Dive InTo Books blog
The Princess and the Fog is very helpful book for the many children and families that are dealing with depression. It can help the children and adults understand how it feels, give them understandable vocabulary to use, and find paths to breaking through the barriers that depression can raise. It is a wonderful discussion starter and tool that everyone can use to foster understanding and find tools to work toward solutions.
Sharon the Librarian blog
The book is beautifully illustrated with the fog/depression prominent throughout and showing how she comes back out of it (and sometimes sinks back in - and I think that is an important note). The end of the book even includes information specifically for the parent/guardian figures about child depression and sadness and how to help in a productive way... I found this children's book both informational and appealing to the eye.
Cover2Cover Blog
Depression is fortunately rare in young children but sadly all too common in those around them. This picture book with its simple but accurate text and amusing illustrations is an invaluable aid to talking about depression with children. If your child, or someone important in their life, is affected by depression then this book will help you discuss the causes and treatments of depression in age appropriate language. Lloyd Jones is an "evidence-based author", he has done a very good job of accurately summarising what is known about childhood depression in a way that will amuse as well as inform a young child.
David Cottrell, Professor of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, University of Leeds, and co-author of NICE, Depression in Children & Young People, Clinical Guideline
Lloyd Jones is a silly man with a silly beard who lives in the south of England. More of his work can be seen at www.lloydjonesillustration.com. Lloyd has a first class honours degree in Illustration from the University of Portsmouth, an MA in Sequential Design and Illustration from the University of Brighton and he is currently working on a PGCE FE from the University of Southampton. He has learned to live with his fog, rather than suffer from it.
We don't often think about younger children having depression, what we mistake for early puberty might actually be early signs of depression. This book is aimed at kids ages 5-7 (but kids under 9 will appreciate it as well) describes what kids feel when 'the fog descends' and kids don't want to do anything, or do what they used to.It is also a very good book for kids with parents who suffer from depression, to read and to help understand what is going on with the person with depression, and why they don't act 'like themselves' anymore, but then later they do. The illustrations by Lloyd fit the story perfectly. The book also includes a depression guide for parents and caregivers, by Dr Melinda Edwards and Linda Bayliss, that's offers great tips, suggestions and guidance. This is a book that needs to be at every school, and read to every child!. We highly recommend this book!
Bless Their Hearts Mom blog