Reviews and Info 

Published by: Warbranch Press, Inc. in 1999
ISBN:9780966711424
Author and illustrator: Kate Salley Palmer
Illustrations: Acrylic paint
Retail price:$7.95
Grade level:3-5 

Reviews:

"Kate Salley Palmer is the writer and illustrator of this colorful little book, which deals sensitively with a situation children (and adults) may find difficult and upsetting to comprehend."

The State newspaper (Columbia, SC) - 1999

"The Little Chairs shows that a loving family member can reach out to someone who is troubled and let them know they are needed until they find their way back."

Anderson (SC) Independent-Mail - 1999

"It is Palmer's bright, cheerful illustrations which make this book a joy to read, brightening the sad and difficult topic. Her realistic ending also helps children who are facing very real problems. Because of its vivid illustrations a few words, this book is perfect for little listeners as well as older children."

From Jennifer Minchin (a reader on Amazon.com) - 2000

Little Chairs 

In The Little Chairs, a happy family - mama, daddy and two children - is suddenly faced with a problem that affects the whole family. The daddy has fallen victim to sad thoughts and begins to sit in a dark corner. The daddy says he is making himself sad and doesn't know how to stop it. The mama or the children didn't make him sad, but they also can't make him happy. The mama wants to help the daddy come out of his dark corner, so she brings him little chairs to paint. At first the daddy is not really very enthusiastic about the new "job" the mama has given him. However, after four days and several coats of colorful paint on the four little chairs, the daddy feels like eating supper with the family again.

This is actually a true story about Kate's mother and father. Her father was a WWII vet and subject to chronic bouts of depression when he would be reluctant to participate in family activities, including some meals. Kate's mama (we call her "Big Salley", and she is now 92) brought Kate's dad one little chair and said she wanted it painted. He picked out the color (brown), and when he had finished with the first coat, "Big Salley" looked at the chair and then looked at him and said, "Paint it again", because she could see that his mood was not improved significantly. So, he painted the chair again and again, and by the 5th coat of brown paint, he smiled and called "Big Salley" over to inspect his work. She looked at the chair and then looked at him and said OK. And that's what The Little Chairs is about, except that there are four little chairs and each is a different color - one yellow, one red, one green and one blue.

When Kate speaks to students (usually grades 3-5), she sometimes reads The Little Chairs and the students always ask lots of questions because many of them are affected by depression/mental illness in one way or another. Sometimes it's a parent or other relative and sometimes it may be a parent of a friend.

Student depictions of a "little chair" at Niblack Elementary School in Lake City, Florida (2006)

Many elementary guidance counselors have used The Little Chairs in their daily counseling of students about mental illness, especially depression.