About the Author

Christine A. Emery has been entertaining children for over 15 years. Storytelling, face painting, balloons, and magic are just some of the ways she spreads joy and laughter, always with an encouraging, positive message. She loves adventures and treasure hunts. Her most valuable treasure is her supportive, loving husband, Brian, and her four wonderful amazing children, Joshua, Zachary, Kellie, and Josiah. Kellie R. Emery is a graphic designer and illustrator of five books. She has an obsession with shiny lights and loves to paint on both faces and canvases. One day, Kellie plans on moving to Ireland with her polar bear friend, Toulouse, where they will make cookies and cheesecakes.

Reviews

"This thoughtfully crafted book is the best book I have seen on the topic of childhood depression. The author rips the band-aid right off of depression in a supportive, helpful, hopeful way. We have to remove the stigma and talk about it.The truth is that many children struggle with anxiety and depression from a very young age. As parents, we need to educate ourselves to better help our kids. This book is an absolute must have in every home, school library, pediatric office, therapy setting. If this book were available when my son struggled with sadness and the "blues", we might be singing a different song at this point of his life. The signs are there! This book will help immediately. It will open up a conversation to provide support and desk help. I highly recommend and love this book.This book will save lives!" --Kimberly King, author of Finding Your Fit and other children's books "Christine and Kellie Emery have created another inspiring book for children and adults alike. The beautiful illustrations and insightful words can serve as a conversation starter about a tough topic. Simply put, The Black Cloud Blues is a wonderfully written story of depression and hope." --Peter L. Harmon, author of The Happenstances... young adult book series "I loved the book, 'Black Cloud Blues', it is an amazing read for children! It covers mental health issues like depression in a caring and unique way. The illustrations are brilliant, the use of colors is so telling and fitting with the mood of the book. Best of all it has a positive ending offering a good solution while making one feel upbeat and good. I highly recommend this for all parents to share with their children." --Regina Marscheider, Child Advocate, Author, Executive Director of Stop Abuse "This book is a fantastic way to introduce the difficult subject of depression and how to handle heavy emotions to young children. It's a subject that many adults have issues handling and as a result they can have little to no clue how to explain these heavy themes to their children. I especially appreciated the nod to the generational genetic component that can contribute to depression within the book. I feel that it can help children understand that the burden is not on themselves alone. That others, even those in their own family, can and do go through the same thing. I can see this being one of those books that's requested night after night at bedtime." --Once & Future Books Blog "This is an important picture book that provides hope without suggesting an effortless path to happiness. It treats mental illness with dignity and children with respect. Even more, images and words share a harmonious relationship that make the narrator's feelings accessible to even the youngest readers. The Black Cloud Blues will make a wonderful addition to personal and classroom libraries likely filling a gap on even the most carefully curated bookcases." --Jennifer Miller, PhD, Raise Them Righteous Children's Book Reviews