Books to help children understand depression in grown-ups

This brilliant book manages to deal with bullying, fear of being different, frustration at underachieving, and the fact that while some things may appear small from the outside, they can feel unconquerable to those experiencing them.

Drawing on personal experiences of living in a family blighted by depression, this unusual, yet important, book may help youngsters to make sense of an illness they cannot see.

This uplifting tale, which explores the nature of happiness and celebrates the touching relationship between grandparent and child, is an absolute delight.

This fabulously illustrated book addresses the difficult subject of parental depression, at once describing the horror of Aubrey’s dad’s experience but also remaining upbeat and full of surreal humour.

The perfect blend of words and pictures, this is a wonderful book to share with anyone suffering from depression or uncertainty

Taking place in a believable urban, multicultural environment that will be familiar to many young readers, Polly Ho-Yen’s debut is an impressively moving and thought-provoking story that will touch children and adults alike.

This is a moving yet unsentimental account of two children coming to terms with their mother’s depression, mental instability and alcohol problem.