BEFORE AND AFTER BABY

A child copes with her mother’s postpartum depression in Blackwell’s debut picture book.

Before Andy’s new baby brother arrives, everything in her family seems happy, and her parents are quick to assure her that accidents and mistakes are normal and easily forgivable after a bicycle kerfuffle. Together, the family of three sings, enjoys bath time, reads stories, and snuggles before bed. “But After Baby, nothing feels the same,” Andy explains. Mommy sinks into postpartum depression (PPD), which adult readers may recognize immediately, but for Andy and young readers it feels like an inexplicable and frightening change. After Andy helps comfort the baby, she talks to her parents about her mother’s condition. Mommy compares her emotions to Andy’s frightening bicycle ride: Everything feels chaotic and out of control, but none of that is Andy or the baby’s fault. Although Mommy’s struggle may be scary for children to read about, Blackwell depicts all the family members with sympathy, using Andy’s voice to keep the words simple even though the emotions are complex. Wong’s ink and watercolor illustrations move the story forward, sharply contrasting “before” Mommy’s coloration with a gray-hued Mommy as depression sets in. Colors for the whole family are muted after baby’s arrival until a final image shows possibilities for them moving forward as they are all patient and Mommy works to get better.

A valuable book that makes PPD easier to discuss, showing children they’re not alone.