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Perry Panda Paperback – 22 Aug. 2016

4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 56 ratings

An upbeat rhyming story for young children whose parent(s) are suffering from depression. Perry's mum is very sad and he is worried it is his fault. He speaks with his grandma who explains in simple terms what might cause depression and what the treatment(s) might be.
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Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (22 Aug. 2016)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 28 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1532742908
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1532742903
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 17.78 x 0.18 x 25.4 cm
  • Customer reviews:
    4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 56 ratings

About the author

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Helen Bashford
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Helen trained in Psychology and her career to date has been within mental health and learning disability services. Whilst working with families Helen identified an increasing need for children's books to help them understand mental illness in a relative, and after becoming a mother herself she began writing stories.

Perry Panda was written for young children whose parent(s) are suffering from depression, but additional books addressing diagnoses such as anxiety and bipolar are in progress.

Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
56 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book helpful for young children to understand depression. They praise the well-written and concise content, as well as the beautiful illustrations. The story is described as heartwarming, compassionate, and touching.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

24 customers mention ‘Literacy’24 positive0 negative

Customers find the book helpful for children to understand depression. They say it's a nice way of reassuring them and opening discussions with older children who have parents struggling with mental health issues. The book is described as simple and age-appropriate, with lovely illustrations. It's considered a must-have for children with mentally ill relatives.

"...integral part of society, this book performs a very important role in explaining to young children how it might affect those who are close to them...." Read more

"...domestic violence and family breakdowns, so the subject matter really resonated with us as depression can be triggered by the extremely stressful..." Read more

"Amazing book that is so clearly focused on helping young children understand what’s going on...." Read more

"...Also depression is experienced by everyone differently so this doesn’t go too far into detail about symptoms which might make no sense to them like..." Read more

19 customers mention ‘Written quality’19 positive0 negative

Customers find the book well-written and easy to read. It's concise, cleverly written for its young audience, and flows smoothly with rhyming couplets. The mood of the page and the questions make it easy to understand and talk about.

"...The book is very well written and the story easy to comprehend...." Read more

"...It's beautifully written, incredibly sensitive and a brilliant way to help facilitate a loving conversation...." Read more

"Such a beautifully written book! It's written so simply yet somehow manages to cover all the bases when it comes to depression but in a way that a..." Read more

"...Beautifully written and illustrated it’s a great example of creativity with purpose...." Read more

17 customers mention ‘Illustrations’17 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the illustrations. They find them beautiful and say they still pick it up to read.

"...The illustration is also fantastic, with the bright colours and identifiable characters really helping to interest youngsters in the content...." Read more

"...He loved the illustrations and still picks it if off the bookshelf to read now. Would highly recommend." Read more

"...Beautifully written and illustrated it’s a great example of creativity with purpose...." Read more

"Ordered several books on the subject. This one is by far the nicest and will span a range of ages. A great discussion point...." Read more

10 customers mention ‘Heartwarming story’10 positive0 negative

Customers find the story touching and comforting. They say it's a compassionate tale that tackles the subject of depression in a parent. The ending is a real heartwarmer, making the book a great choice for kids.

"...a spoiler, but as some of the other reviews allude to, the end is a real heart warmer!..." Read more

"...only because it rang so true, was written so beautifully and was so comforting...." Read more

"...young children just enough information for them to understand and feel reassured but not so much it’s overwhelming or scary...." Read more

"What a compassionate story to tackle the subject of depression in a parent. The illustrations are great and it is beautifully written...." Read more

Absolutely brilliant totally recommend!
5 out of 5 stars
Absolutely brilliant totally recommend!
This is so warming and so perfectly thought out this really got into the minds of my children and helped them understand. I've never found any other book like it. Me and my children give it a huge thumbs up xI'm
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Top reviews from United Kingdom

  • Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 15 September 2016
    With depression becoming such an integral part of society, this book performs a very important role in explaining to young children how it might affect those who are close to them. Perry Panda's mum has depression, and having noticed her moods he consults his grandma for help. The ensuing conversation allows Perry to understand what is going on, and most importantly teaches him that his mum's feelings and behaviour are not a result of anything he has done. I shan't be a spoiler, but as some of the other reviews allude to, the end is a real heart warmer! The book is very well written and the story easy to comprehend. The illustration is also fantastic, with the bright colours and identifiable characters really helping to interest youngsters in the content. The message in this book is not an easy one to deliver, especially given the target audience, but it does it very well. I hope it gets the recognition it deserves so that it can go on to help as many children and families as possible who have to live with this unfortunate disorder.
    3 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 14 March 2017
    We purchased this book on behalf of Bromley Brighter Beginnings (a charity that supports needy families). We work with many women and children who have been affected by poverty, domestic violence and family breakdowns, so the subject matter really resonated with us as depression can be triggered by the extremely stressful situations many of these women live in. We purchased copies for every infant/primary school and Women's refuge in our Borough as we feel passionately that this is a resource that as many people as possible should be able to access. It's beautifully written, incredibly sensitive and a brilliant way to help facilitate a loving conversation. Unlike many other books for children that cover emotional subjects, its message is very clear yet sensitively pitched so the impact of reading it would be immediate. For parents with depression, we feel it is a gift and we are so pleased that we are able to help extend its reach. As a parent who doesn't suffer from depression, I also feel that this is a valuable read for anyone who sometimes shows stress or anxiety or doesn't parent in the 'perfect' way. Strongly recommend!
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 1 September 2016
    Such a beautifully written book! It's written so simply yet somehow manages to cover all the bases when it comes to depression but in a way that a child can understand. When I was suffering with postnatal depression at my worst, this little book was like a little ray of sunshine. Although it made me cry even more when I read it this was only because it rang so true, was written so beautifully and was so comforting. When my husband would read it to my little boy on my rough days, it was good to know someone was explaining it all too him in a way that he could make sense of - reassuring him none of it was his fault. He loved the illustrations and still picks it if off the bookshelf to read now. Would highly recommend.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 8 February 2017
    Amazing book that is so clearly focused on helping young children understand what’s going on. Beautifully written and illustrated it’s a great example of creativity with purpose. As a mother there is nothing more important than feeling like you are doing a good job and this story can help young children understand what their parents are going through and realise it’s nothing they have done - emotionally benefiting everyone. A must for anyone with young children who is suffering with depression. I hope there are more of stories to come!
  • Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 22 June 2020
    Ordered several books on the subject. This one is by far the nicest and will span a range of ages. A great discussion point. Gives even young children just enough information for them to understand and feel reassured but not so much it’s overwhelming or scary. Also depression is experienced by everyone differently so this doesn’t go too far into detail about symptoms which might make no sense to them like some other books do.
  • Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 7 March 2017
    A really sweetly written book about the important topic of depression in parents, introduce gently. The illustrations are lovely too. I think this would be ideal for any parent struggling with depression, or pre schools and school settings. It would serve as a great prompt for circle time/discussion around the theme. My daughter is 2.5 and she understood the message of the story. A fabulous little book!
  • Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 29 January 2017
    I'm a mum of three who has depression & this book is absolutely wonderful. It made me cry the first time I read it. A much needed book. It explains so simply depression & reassures children that their mum being depressed isn't their fault. A beautiful, truly wonderful book.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 26 August 2016
    What a beautiful book. It is written in a really clear, simple way that my children instantly 'got', the illustrations are great too. Fantastic for any child to help them understand why someone may be feeling sad and to help to reassure them that they are not to blame. Love it!