Review by Booklist Review
From the moment Coen gets up, he's having "a slumping, sighing, sobbing kind of day," and he returns to bed. Mom, Dad, and even his little sister attempt to help, but nothing works. Instead, Coen stays silent, huddling more tightly beneath his blanket. Eventually, the family gathers around him, quiet and patient; progressively, Coen's mood lightens until he finally asks for a story. A concluding scene shows the parents with arms encircling both children, reading together. Throughout, Tomlinson's text incorporates various descriptions of what Coen's experiencing, both internally and externally ("gloomy"; "his body felt prickly, tense"; "like a lost kite: loose in the breeze"), while interweaving the word blue, and the expressive illustrations offer unmistakable visuals. Though the source of Coen's initial feelings isn't specified and the terms depression or sadness explicitly mentioned in the text, children may appreciate the understanding, validating approach to the topic, including the reassuring reminder that "blue feelings" can change. An adult-directed endnote discusses potential characteristics of depression kids may exhibit and offers suggestions for helping kids deal with them.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by School Library Journal Review
K-Gr 4--Psychologist/author Tomlinson introduces a child navigating his "blue" mood in a thoughtful, all-Australian collaboration. Indigenous Australian Tori-Jay Mordey illustrated the book, her art inspired by her own multiracial background. Australian Aboriginal actor/narrator Shari Sebbens, too, shares the characters' heritage: to savor Sebbens's resonating performance with an open book reveals Coen's father presenting as white, and his mother drawn with brown skin. Sebbens is an empathic cipher as Coen faces "a deep, murky kind of blue that made [him] feel trapped." Sebbens infuses his mother's "It can't be that bad" with anxious worry, his father's "Let's go outside" with concerned cheer, his sister's "You don't look sick!" with energetic doubt. Coen can't "find the words to describe why everything felt so wrong," but his family's quiet support helps him out of his "blanket cocoon." VERDICT Every library could benefit from stocking multiple formats of this gentle guide to tough emotions.
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
Blue is not just a color. Coen, a young Indigenous Australian boy, is having a difficult day. His body is coiled and tense, his feelings are "a deep, murky kind of blue," and bed is the only place he finds relief. Mum says that "it can't be that bad." Dad thinks fresh air will do the trick. "What's wrong with you?" his little sister, Junie, innocently demands. Coen feels "like a lost kite: loose in the breeze, with feelings that tangled like string"--and tangled Coen wants to be left alone. His family doesn't understand. Then, little by little, Coen begins to respond to his parents' and sibling's loving patience and their assurance that his blue feelings won't last forever. Author/psychologist Tomlinson deftly delves into the "muddled-up" moods of childhood depression with sympathy and compassion. With emotive descriptions such as "it was a slumping, sighing, sobbing kind of day," the text invites readers to empathize rather than advise a child who is very much in pain. Mordey's illustrations incorporate character design based on her own family, bringing a special warmth to this depiction of a racially-mixed household and their tender interactions. The limited palette of gentle blues, pinks, and apricot allows viewers to focus on the family members' emotions. The author's note further encourages families to recognize the different ways children process emotions and provides suggestions for helping children work through these overwhelming feelings. (This book was reviewed digitally.) A loving tribute to the power of loved ones' support during trying times. (Picture book. 4-9) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
