Book Nook - The Mood Swing

 I recently had a chance to review The Mood Swing, a beautiful book that can help kids navigate the big emotions that come with major changes, loss, and grief.

The story follows Peter, a young boy grappling with grief after his father’s passing. A magical swing, tethered to a Moon Tree, propels Peter into fantastical adventures that mirror his emotions. When Peter is happy, with both of his parents by his side, he blasts off into a whimsical adventure through Outer Space – a dream come true! When he returns a year later without his father, unable to find the magic he once had, the swing descends, plunging Peter into a pit of quicksand.

With the help of his mother and the comforting reminder that his father is always with him in the stars, Peter learns to find balance and rediscover the joy of the swing

The author draws on his own experience with grieving the loss of his father at a young age. Navigating big emotions with kids is challenging, and there aren't a lot of books out there like this - showing the grieving process in a young child, in a way that kids can understand. 

B.R. Duray is an author, film director, screenwriter and entrepreneur born in San Diego, California. He has written and directed feature length films for major studios, documentary features spanning 6 continents, docu-series for Oscar-Winning production companies, music videos for A-list artists, nationally televised branded content, award-winning short films, and virtual reality experiences about topics such as death and birth. Thompson is the founder of Moon Tree Studios LLC, a multi-media production company dedicated to bringing light and healing magic to children and families across the world. 

Find out more about the book at http://moodswing-media.org.

Follow B.R. Duray on social media:

Facebook: @moodswingbook | Twitter: @brduray

Instagram: @moodswingbook | TikTok: @moodswingbook 

About the Illustrator

Momo Valentini (a.k.a Momes) is a Japanese-American illustrator, animator, and engineer based in Los Angeles. Her work includes visuals for her favorite musicians, bringing concepts and albums to life through artwork, merchandise, music videos, 2D animations, and browser games. Her background in child development and love of storytelling blend together to create whimsical worlds that capture and inspire the imaginations of children and adults alike. She loves working in her home studio with her two best assistants, Diego the dog and Santiago the tortoise.