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Mama Moon: A Story About Love and Mental Health

written and illustrated by Noah Grigni

Henry Holt, April 2025

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Deeply felt and beautifully told, Mama Moon is the story of a child who muses that their mother is like the moon—ever changing, sometimes blue, sometimes bright.

Mama loves warm summers, and eating cherries while stargazing with Baba and Kiddo. But on her bluest of days, she can’t do the things that other mamas do.

Persevering with love, no matter what phase Mama is in, this family weathers the ups and downs of a loved one's illness.

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My first book as both author and illustrator, Mama Moon, is out now! Mama Moon is a story about a queer family moving through a mental health crisis with care, compassion, and a little bit of help from the moon. The character of Mama is inspired by my mother, while Baba and Kiddo are inspired by friends and loved ones. I hope this book will help kids learn about mental health with an intuitive metaphor that affirms and celebrates neurodivergence.

 

When I was little, my mother taught astronomy at a local college, and often took me stargazing. Learning about the phases of the moon at a young age helped me understand my mother's cycles of mania and depression as natural forces beyond my control. There are few stories that allow parents to experience lasting and disabling mental illness, while still being seen as loving, good parents and whole human beings. I want to see queer, disabled families portrayed with humanity and nuance, treated with the same depth and care as anyone else. And I want to use the moon to teach kids that the cycles of bipolar are natural, because that's what the moon taught me as a child.

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Go pick up a copy of Mama Moon from your local library or independent bookstore today!​​ Here's a link to order it from my favorite book shop, Charis Books & More.