Sometimes Bipolar Bear finds himself at the bright North Pole or the dreary South Pole. Using tools he finds either on his own or with the help of his family, he's able to make his way back to his home. Cut out the sunglasses and the flashlight in the back to get involved, and if you flip through the pages quickly, you just may find a nice surprise!

Eli the polar bear learns to deal with his bipolar disorder.

The Bipolar Bear Family is a story about a young cub who struggles to understand his mother's behavior and her subsequent diagnosis of Bipolar Disorder. The story of The Bipolar Bear Family helps children of bipolar parents address such questions as: Is this my fault? Is it contagious? Can I fix it? According to the National Institute for Mental Health, Bipolar Disorder affects more than 2 million American adults. Further, we know that the dynamics of Mental Illness closely mirror the dynamics of alcoholism and addiction in its impact on the family system. By compassionately educating parents and children, the author hopes to make a life-long difference for these courageous families.

This book chronicles bipolar illness through the eyes of a 7-year-old "cub" of a bipolar mother. He takes us through the heartache, frustration and embarrassment he experiences, but poignantly shares his compassion for his mother. When the cub finds the courage to communicate his basic needs, mama bear finds some surprising and creative ways to help her child cope. The cheerful drawings and heartwarming ending will delight all ages and give parents, children and the caregiving community helpful ideas and a bear-sized heart. Many thanks to Northern Essex Community College and Children's Literature Professor Janet Clark

Fictional story about Brandon, a young boy living with bipolar disorder. Readers learn about his symptoms, fears, and treatment from a child's viewpoint.

Theodore is a bear with wild mood swings. When he is up, he carves epic poetry into tree trunks. When he is down, he paints sad faces on rocks and turtle shells. In search of prescription medications that will bring stability to his life, Theodore finds a job with health insurance benefits. He gets the meds, but when he can’t pay the psychiatrist’s bill, he becomes lost in the Labyrinth of Health Insurance Claims. This witty and colorful tale follows the comical exploits of Theodore, a loveable and relatable bear, as he copes with bipolar disorder, navigates the inequities of capitalist society, founds a commune, and becomes an activist, all the while accompanied by a memorable cast of characters—fat-cat insurance CEOs, a wrongfully convicted snake, raccoons with tommy guns, and an unemployed old dog who cannot learn new tricks. Entertaining, whimsical, and bitingly satirical, Bipolar Bear is a fable for grownups that manages the delicate balance of addressing society’s ills while simultaneously presenting a hopeful vision for the world.

In When Mystical Creatures Attack!, Ms. Freedman’s high school English class writes essays in which mystical creatures resolve the greatest sociopolitical problems of our time. Students include Janice Gibbs, “a feral child with excessive eyeliner and an anti-authoritarian complex that would be interesting were it not so ill-informed,” and Cody Splunk, an aspiring writer working on a time machine. Following a nervous breakdown, Ms. Freedman corresponds with Janice and Cody from an insane asylum run on the capitalist model of cognitive-behavioral therapy, where inmates practice water aerobics to rebuild their Psychiatric Credit Scores. The lives of Janice, Cody, and Ms. Freedman are revealed through in-class essays, letters, therapeutic journal exercises, an advice column, a reality show television transcript, a diary, and a Methodist women’s fundraising cookbook. (Recipes include “Dark Night of the Soul Food,” “Render Unto Caesar Salad,” and “Valley of the Shadow of Death by Chocolate Cake.”) In “Virtue of the Month,” the ghost of Ms. Freedman’s mother argues that suicide is not a choice. In “The Un-Game,” Janice’s chain-smoking nursing home charge composes a dirty limerick. In “The Hall of Old-Testament Miracles,” wax figures of Bible characters come to life, hungry for Cody’s flesh. Set against a South Texas landscape where cicadas hum and the air smells of taco stands and jasmine flowers, these stories range from laugh-out-loud funny to achingly poignant. This surreal, exuberant collection mines the dark recesses of the soul while illuminating the human heart.

Do polar bears ever become bipolar? I don't mean do they travel to the South Pole, I mean do they get depressed over the fact that the North Pole will have disappeared in thirty years in the summers, if we don't fix climate change? It's a serious question, since the poles are warming faster than the rest of the planet. This book takes a sensitive, but light-hearted look at a serious issue where people can become unpredictably hyper and hypo by turns (not by terns), alternating between happy and sad, irritated for no reason, acting without consideration of consequence - In fact, just like humanity is when it comes to climate change. Note that for medical advice you should talk to a competent qualified medical professional!

Have you ever felt like others would think that you're different? That's exactly the way that Emma feels when her teacher announces the class project to create a family tree. Emma is certain that everyone in her class won't understand and accept what it means to be adopted. Can she solve her dilemma? 38 pagesAges 3-9Includes Chinese symbol scavenger hunt, vocabulary study, create-your-own family tree page, and a page to draw your family.

From the Author: To my friends who fight the good fight of managing bipolar disorder: I applaud you. I know it is not all lollipops and toe socks-believe me! But I find that even today, with my “cub” grown, it is the simple, basic things that will keep you afloat. In addition to “stockpiling” the fruits of your “best you,” your family needs to see you putting in the time and effort every day to live a healthy lifestyle. I have been counseled that it is the essentials such as water, water, water, sunshine, exercise, healthy food, impeccable sleep hygiene, and of course a close relationship with a doctor you trust and follow. I am here to tell you that life with Bipolar disorder can be fun and fulfilling. The embarrassing moments you invariably encounter can be lived down by loveable you, who has probably received many gifts that outweigh the challenges. (If you weren’t a bipolar bear, you wouldn’t be you, right?) This book is for young and old-mother bears, father bears, cubs and anyone in the community who could benefit from being encouraged to tolerate well, and above all, have a bear-sized heart for those that are different. All the Best, Nancy Smith Earley