The Bear
A Story About Depression
by Nicole Dyson

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Have you ever heard of depression? Our friend Bear has agreed to answer some questions for us about what it’s like to live with this illness! We ask Bear important questions about depression. Do you want to know more about what having depression feels like? Or how it affects Bear’s everyday life? Come along with us and learn all about how Bear’s brain works—and how many of our brains work, too! The Bear is an excellent resource for any children experiencing depression, either first- or second-hand. With warm, empathetic storytelling, based in science, Bear explains for young children what it means to have depression—and what we can do to help ourselves and our loved ones feel better.

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Nicole Dyson loves to read heartwarming stories—especially those with a clear, positive message—aloud to her nephew and three nieces. She has almost ten years of experience working with children and is currently pursuing her double major in biological sciences and psychology at the University of Alberta. Nicole has personal experience with depression and other mental illnesses and draws upon this experience in her prose. A long-time writer, Nicole was inspired to write a children’s story about depression after realizing how rare resources are for this age category, and how devastating the consequences can be of refusing to address such important topics with young readers. Nicole lives in Edmonton with her partner, Sam, and their two dogs, Randy and Lahey. The Bear is her first book.

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Contributors

Author

Nicole Dyson

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