on another thread, Sharklet had some useful for book suggestions for explaining mental health issues to children, I've just copied and pasted her post below.
"By sharklet on Tuesday, 7 March, 2006 10:25:53 PM
Try looking at www.youngminds.org.uk they have advice on mental illness in children and also more pertinently to your problem in family members.
A book to try might be "The Wise Mouse" by Nick Sharratt. Blurb goes as follows: This is an accessible and sensitive book written by novelist and agony aunt Virginia Ironside and illustrated by Nick Sharratt for children whose family member may be experiencing a mental health problem.
Through a simple story about a girl whose mother has a mental health problem and a 'wise mouse' who helps the girl, children will be encouraged to explore their own feelings about the problem and what it may mean for their family.
Maria is a little girl who's very worried about her mother: why does she behave so oddly at times? One night, very upset about it all, Maria feels a tap on her shoulder and wakes to find a mouse sitting on her duvet. It's not just any old mouse though, but a very wise one who can talk to Maria about all her worriesÄ
This book is written for 5 to 11 year-olds and aims to help them understand what is happening to a family member who may be experiencing a mental illness.
I knw it might be a bit old but it might be worth a try and might give you some ideas.
Jacqueline Wilson also writes about mental illness.
Another book to try could be "Sometimes my Mommy gets angry" about a child who's mother is scitzophrenic.
There must be loads of others too. "