Daddy's Waves

When Ellie's dad fails to show up for their visit, she is left confused, sad, and angry, and she struggles to make sense of what happened. Her Uncle Finny and Miss K. step in to support her. Using the image of a wave, they help her name her dad's shifting moods, hold on to warm memories of him, and see that she is not alone.

The book began as an adaptation of Mama's Waves, created in response to requests from families and the professionals who work with them. Mama's Waves received the 2020 SCBWI SPARK Award.

Millions of young children are growing up with an adult who is struggling because of childhood trauma (ACEs), mental illness such as PTSD, depression, or bipolar disorder, substance abuse, or another addiction. The story is meant for any child with a family member who goes through emotional ups and downs, whether or not they live together. Young children often worry about these relatives and carry many hard questions, so the book aims to open the conversations they need. It shows that talking these things through is possible, important, and a path toward healing and closer connection. Although it was written with children whose parents have faced addiction or mental illness in mind, its language may also help any child understand the challenges many families face.

Daddy's Waves is the second book in the Ellie Bean series. Its creators also made Once I Was Very Very Scared, You Weren't With Me, Holdin Pott, and the Trinka and Sam story series, all designed as tools to help families heal after stressful or traumatic events.