Kid’s Neurodiverse & Other Wellness-Related Topics
According to the World Health Organization, one in four people will have mental health challenges at some point in their lives. It might affect YOU or someone you love! This could include ADHD, anxiety, autism, bipolar disorder, dementia, depression, and more.
My passion is to educate children about these types of mental health conditions through engaging, entertaining, and educational picture books, with each one explaining a specific neurodiverse topic.
I’m also creating stories on other important wellness-related topics, like healthy eating, restful sleep, enjoying nature, relaxation, friendship, and more.
Children's Picture Books
There, Bear? A Story
About Embracing
Bipolar Disorder
My first children’s picture book is intended for young children and helps them understand various bipolar symptoms and what to do about them. Bear learns how to embrace bipolar and has a great friend who understands him.
This concept book describes Bear’s brain, symptoms, and treatments, friendship and being special for who you are.
If you’d like a read-a-loud in your classroom, please see the Community page. If you’d like to share the story yourself, please click the RESOURCES button below for ideas, activities, and other educational information that complement the book.
Book Reviews
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Lynne B.
“This book is great for kids and parents to understand bipolar disorder! I highly recommend it!”
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J. Jorgensen
“A really good book for youngsters to get a better understanding of struggles related to a mood disorder. Check this book out and check out this Author!!”
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J. Hutchins
“Good for Children and Adults – This is a great book to help children and adults learn about BP and how to better deal with it. Examples are great for kids.”
Children's Picture Books
An Autism Spectrum Theme Story (538 words)
Gilly secretly longs to fit in with his friends and wants to be asked to race with them. Using playful lyrical verse, this heartwarming x-ray fish explains what it’s like to live on the autism spectrum from his perspective, including his distinct challenges and strengths.
Gilly often describes his main coping technique using a repetitive rhyming phrase: “My own private world is my favorite retreat; I dart down and away… repeat… repeat…repeat.”
Resources include facts about glass fish, information about autism spectrum, and famous people with autism.
Here’s what one teacher said about my story:
“Every individual with ASD expresses a wide variety of behaviors but each and every one is capable of moving mountains; they just need support from those around them. Like Gilly’s tank mates, love and celebrate those with ASD, and who knows, you may just find your best friend in the process.”
– Ms. Haley Parson, Special Education Teacher, Fenton Community Schools
A Dementia Theme Story (575 words)
Gram loves spending time with her grandpuppies, but they wonder why she keeps losing her bone. She explains that her brain no longer works the way it did before. Dogs, like humans, can experience dementia as they age, and Gram is in dementia’s early stages.
Gram copes with her dementia by reminding her grandpuppies how much she loves them throughout the story: “Sometimes it’s not easy, my brain seems so slow. But I’ll always love you, I want you to know!”
Resources include facts about dementia in people and in dogs, and ways children can help someone who is experiencing it.
Here’s what one neurologist said about my story:
“Dementia can be a scary topic for children; this story about Gram and her difficulties with memory loss introduces the subject in an accessible way which is reassuring. We all want to know that the person we know and love still loves us, even if some of the other things they say or do are confusing.”
– Danette C. Taylor, DO, MS, FACN, Hauenstein Neurosciences, Trinity Health St. Mary’s
A Clinical Depression Theme Story (519 words)
Buzzy’s world has turned upside down! This heartbroken worker bee can’t even find the energy to flap its wings, let alone collect nectar or pollen, or buzzzz with the other bees.
“I’m not humming, harvesting, or even happy. I feel STUCK! I’m not feeling zippy-zappy,” moans Buzzy Bee. Using lyrical verse, this worker bee explains what it’s like to experience and overcome clinical depression.
Resources include facts about childhood depression and ways children can help someone experiencing it.
Here’s what one inspiring teenager said about my story:
“This is a really good book. I think it’s a great example of depression and a perfect view for kids. I’m really happy to see someone write a kid’s book based on depression and/or mental illnesses. I really like the way you used bees.
– S.W., teenager who experienced childhood depression
These lyrical picture books encourage healthy habits and share an important wellbeing or social emotional learning topic, like mindfulness, exercise, restful sleep, healthy eating, laughter, friendship, getting outside to enjoy nature, and more.
Each story includes valuable RESOURCES and information about each subject, designed in a creative way that children will love to read time-and-time again.
Educators may find them useful for units on SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING or other wellness-related topics or to introduce a STEAM project.
They’ll be going out to publishers soon!
A Restful Sleep Theme Story (288 words)
This snuggle bunny understands exactly what their favorite little person needs to slumber off to sleep with sweet dreams. Using pleasing, lullaby-like words, the bunny shares a special, sleepy-time secret about the various kinds of sprinkles that children adore. This calm-down lyrical story has wonderful blue-tone illustrations and is a great way to encourage sweet thoughts before drifting off to sleep.
Helpful tips for restful sleep are included.
He starts, “Fill your dreams with some sprinkles from this quiet lullaby. It’s time for some slumber and soft, peaceful shut-eye.”
Here’s what one sleepy child said about my story:
“Awwwe, I love the blue part!”
– I. M., an amazing 5-year-old.
A Healthy Eating Theme Story (377 words)
Using punchy lyrical verse and comical dialogue, this GRRRRRUMPY sausage dog must eat differently than he did before and finds that he likes it after all! His favorite little friend eats differently than most others too and understands his unique challenges. He welcomes the support and encouragement from his family and vet as he learns to make healthier choices.
An author’s statement about her real doxie dog is included, along with a gluten-free recipe for dogs and one for tiny humans too.
He starts, “My name is Bruiser, but the kids all call me Bru. I once was slappy-happy, but I’m crying…Boo! Hoo! Hoo!”
Here’s what one health-conscious parent said about my story:
“This gluten-free story is unique and fun because it’s told from the dog’s perspective.”
– R. V., a Storyteller Academy Reviewer
A Nature Mindfulness Theme Story (524 words)
Tapping into their five senses, readers will yearn to get outside and not only explore nature, but honor, protect, and enjoy it. Each diverse child takes an alphabetical expedition through the many signs of nature, as they explore, ponder, protect, and enjoy.
While nature can be amazing, it can also be annoying at times, according to this little environmental activist.
“N is for NATURE and a NEST in a tree, NAUGHTY NOISY birds NATTERING at me.”
Hidden words and objects on the pages help express the emotional experience. With a chipmunk mindfulness exercise that can be done inside or out, a section about experiencing nature through the five senses, and helpful conservation ideas that children can do, this story complements a nature-lover’s bookshelf.
Here’s what one little explorer exclaimed:
“I loved the hidden objects and words on each page, and I loved being a chipmunk!”
– I.G., a nature-loving 8-year-old
Sound intriguing? Stay tuned for more information on when they’ll be published!
Follow Me on Social
My HaPpY HeAltHy Kids social media posts include:
Meaningful Mondays
Kid’s wellness-themed videos on my YouTube channel, @gracelynkeyskids and Kids Stories & Poems on Pinterest.
Tasty Tuesdays
Scrumptious gluten, grain, and dairy-free recipes that my family enjoys and kids can easily make. See Kids Healthy Recipes on my Pinterest site.
Wellness Wednesdays
Great wellness-themed quotes!
Thoughtful Thursdays
One wellness word to ponder on.
Fitness Fridays
A fun fitness idea for kids (and adults) to try.
My Newsletter
My newsletter offers fun wellness-themed content & videos. These are great activities for the classroom or to share with the children in your life.
Learn more about me
Thought-provoking riddles to energize your brain!
Fun fitness-related videos to get your kids moving!