Sometimes Stormy
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE STORY:
- Interview with The Courage to Change Podcast: Episode 248
- Cover Reveal & Behind the Scenes of Sometimes Stormy with Bicultural Mama
- Sometimes Stormy 6 Questions with Mary Boone
- The Backstory with Andrew Hacket
- The Picture Book Buzz with Maria Marshall
ACTIVITIES & TEACHERS GUIDES:
RESOURCES FOR CHILDREN & FAMILIES:
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
- Al-Anon Family Groups
- Families Anonymous
- National Association for Children of Addiction (NACoA)
- National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, Inc. (NCADD)
- Recovering Moms Helping Moms
- Downloadable Tools for Kids Activity Packet from NACoA
- 4 Tips for Honest Conversations from Hingham Cares
- American School Counselor Association (ASCA) Alignment by Dr. Danielle Schultz
Interview on The Courage to Change Podcast
In this episode of The Courage to Change, Ashley Loeb Blassingame speaks with author and illustrator Amanda Davis about two deeply connected experiences: growing up in a home impacted by alcohol use disorder and later navigating postpartum OCD as a new mother.
A CONVERSATION WITH PR FROM THE HEART
Award-Winning Children’s Author/Illustrator, Amanda Davis shares how her father’s journey with alcohol use disorder shaped her life and ultimately inspired her children’s book, Sometimes Stormy, which explores the importance of humanizing addiction, the role of trusted adults and mental health resources in creating safe spaces for children, how art can open conversations that words struggle to reach, and practical ways in which parents and educators can introduce kids to sensitive subjects—plus much more.
Fusion Academy Substance Use Prevention and Awareness Panel
Fusion Academy Hingham hosted author-illustrator Amanda Davis to celebrate the release of her third book, “Sometimes Stormy.” During the event, Amanda read her new book, and Kristen Arute of Hingham CARES sat on a resource panel with Dr. Todd Kerensky of South Shore Health and Lori McCarthy of Herren Wellness to field questions during a Q&A time.
Sometimes Stormy
Awards and Recognition
- 2025 Endies Endpaper Award Winner in the Best Abstract category
- 2025 Hindi’s Libraries Females of Fiction Award, Picture Book, Best Book
My author-illustrator debut, Sometimes Stormy: A Story About Finding Calm and Staying Safe When Someone You Love Drinks Too Much released with Free Spirit Publishing/Teacher Created Materials on October 7, 2025.
In this picture book about living with a parent who struggles with alcohol use disorder, a boy realizes his dad is plagued by a troubling storm that sometimes visits their home and changes dad.
This was a hard one to dig into but I truly feel it’s so necessary. According to a report by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), “approximately 7.5 million of U.S. children ages 17 and younger live with a parent who has alcohol use disorder” and current research findings suggest that these children are at risk for a range of cognitive, emotional, and behavioral problems.
Growing up in a household with a father who struggled with alcohol use disorder was confusing, scary, and unpredictable. I know it has contributed to my anxiety as an adult. As a child, I wish I understood the storms of alcohol use and all the complexities that come with the disease. I hope SOMETIMES STORMY will be a comforting and informative story for children and caregivers who are in similar situations and struggles-letting them know they’re not alone, it’s not their fault, they’re loved, and there are things they can do to cope with the Sometimes Storms that visit their home.
Big, big thank you to the team at Free Spirit/ Teacher Created Materials and my agent, Jennifer Unter, for seeing the need and value in this story. I can’t wait to share it with the world with the hope it will help readers through their own challenging times.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE STORY:
- Interview with The Courage to Change Podcast: Episode 248
- Cover Reveal & Behind the Scenes of Sometimes Stormy with Bicultural Mama
- Sometimes Stormy 6 Questions with Mary Boone
- The Backstory with Andrew Hacket
- The Picture Book Buzz with Maria Marshall
ACTIVITIES & TEACHERS GUIDES:
RESOURCES FOR CHILDREN & FAMILIES:
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
- Al-Anon Family Groups
- Families Anonymous
- National Association for Children of Addiction (NACoA)
- National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, Inc. (NCADD)
- Recovering Moms Helping Moms
- Downloadable Tools for Kids Activity Packet from NACoA
- 4 Tips for Honest Conversations from Hingham Cares
- American School Counselor Association (ASCA) Alignment by Dr. Danielle Schultz
Interview on The Courage to Change Podcast
In this episode of The Courage to Change, Ashley Loeb Blassingame speaks with author and illustrator Amanda Davis about two deeply connected experiences: growing up in a home impacted by alcohol use disorder and later navigating postpartum OCD as a new mother.
A CONVERSATION WITH PR FROM THE HEART
Award-Winning Children’s Author/Illustrator, Amanda Davis shares how her father’s journey with alcohol use disorder shaped her life and ultimately inspired her children’s book, Sometimes Stormy, which explores the importance of humanizing addiction, the role of trusted adults and mental health resources in creating safe spaces for children, how art can open conversations that words struggle to reach, and practical ways in which parents and educators can introduce kids to sensitive subjects—plus much more.
Fusion Academy Substance Use Prevention and Awareness Panel
Fusion Academy Hingham hosted author-illustrator Amanda Davis to celebrate the release of her third book, “Sometimes Stormy.” During the event, Amanda read her new book, and Kristen Arute of Hingham CARES sat on a resource panel with Dr. Todd Kerensky of South Shore Health and Lori McCarthy of Herren Wellness to field questions during a Q&A time.
Praise for Sometimes Stormy
“When a loved one struggles with addiction, it can be a scary and confusing time for children. Sometimes Stormy by Amanda Davis is a much-needed book and resource that delicately addresses the topic of substance abuse for children who have witnessed it in a child appropriate way. Amanda Davis has a gift for writing on the difficult situations that children face. An important book counselors, teachers, librarians, and families will want to add to their library.”
— Joanna Rowland, author of the best-selling book, The Memory Box and Big Bear Was Not the Same
“Sometimes Stormy is a compassionate and powerful resource for children navigating the emotional landscape of living with a loved one who struggles with addiction, substance use, or mental health challenges. Through heartfelt storytelling, this book offers young readers a mirror to their own experiences—a place where they can feel seen, understood, and less alone. A vital addition to any home or therapeutic setting, Sometimes Stormy reminds every child: You are not alone, you are not responsible for someone else’s choices, and no matter what storms come—you are always loved.”
—Jazmine Albarian, M.S. Counseling, LMFT