Matt the Moody Hermit Crab

the long version

Matt, a young hermit crab, lives with his parents, brother and sister. His rapid, extreme mood swings annoy, puzzle and frighten his family. As his emotional shifts worsen, he has trouble staying in class and is aggressive toward his friends. Matt shows many of the difficult behaviors seen in such children. He goes through periods of physical aggression, paranoid thoughts, and suicidal feelings. Some manic individuals may make inappropriate sexual advances. The book touches on this briefly without being too explicit. It opens a line of dialogue for children suffering from bipolar disorder, trying to come to grips with, and gain an understanding of what is happening to them. Matt's journey portrays so many of the different emotions, moods and experiences that a bipolar child may go through.