Small as an Elephant

Reach for this book when your child is grappling with the realization that adults are fallible, or if they are showing anxiety about a parent's mental health. Small as an Elephant follows eleven year old Jack, who wakes up at a campground in Acadia National Park to find his mother and their car gone. Jack, whose mother struggles with untreated bipolar disorder, decides to navigate his way back to Boston alone, terrified that if he tells the truth, Social Services will separate them forever. This is a poignant exploration of fierce loyalty, the invisible burden of caregiving children, and the resilience required to survive a crisis. While the premise is heavy, the story is told with a gentle touch and a deep respect for a child's agency, making it an excellent bridge for discussing family reliability and mental health.