Sweet Cherry acquires picture book Bipolar Blob by Smith

Sweet Cherry has acquired a picture book by début author Jodie Smith, entitled Bipolar Blob.

Head of design Jo Samways acquired world rights directly from the author after the pair met at Bologna Children’s Book Fair. Bipolar Blob will be published on 26th October 2023.

The publisher says the book “beautifully illustrates Jodie’s own experiences with bipolar disorder” and that it was written to explain the condition to her infant daughter in a fun, understandable way.

Smith said: “Raising awareness of my own experience with this mental illness is so important to me, not only for my own daughter to understand it but for any other person in a similar situation. It’s so important, now more than ever, to have open and honest discussions about various mental health conditions, to make it less scary and to help families and friends on their own journeys. It has really helped me to reflect, and I’m so grateful to finally be sharing Bipolar Blob with the world!”

Samways said: “As soon as I read Jodie Smith’s manuscript I was impressed by the personal and honest portrayal of this complex subject. It can be so difficult to write about bipolar, yet her style made it accessible. 

“Coupled with her joyful and bright illustrations, I knew this was a book Sweet Cherry just had to publish. It’s a very personal interpretation and I can’t wait to see it in bookshops, where it can be used to help children understand how adults might be affected by bipolar. I can’t wait to watch Jodie develop and create more extraordinary titles with Sweet Cherry!”