When Mom Loses Her Smile

The Lost Smile

What happens when a person loses her smile? And how can children cope when a parent or other family member suffers from depression?

About 3.8 million children in Germany grow up with a parent who has a mental illness or an addiction--one in five children. In her first children's book, *Auf der Spur nach dem verlorenen Lachen* (In Search of the Lost Smile), Dr. Heidi Klein addresses a topic that affects many families but is rarely discussed.

The book, aimed at children ages five to ten, centers on Lilli and Lola. The two friends notice that their classmate Ludwig is often sad and hardly ever laughs anymore. When they learn that his mother is suffering from depression, they form a "Friendship Team" and set out on a quest to find the lost laughter. Treasure maps, games, and many other ideas create shared moments in which joy becomes possible again.

The lovingly illustrated book consists of a story and a practical section with games, recipes, and suggestions. It makes it clear that children are not responsible for an adult's illness and cannot cure it. The story and the practical exercises can help rebuild the connection between the parent with the illness and the children. A children's book is no substitute for therapy, but this one opens the door to child-friendly questions and answers.

Laughter is a treasure. Sometimes it gets lost. But treasures that are lost can be sought out and found again. And searching is better with a partner than alone--and finding brings twice as much joy.

What makes this book special is that Dr. Heidi Klein has managed to bring a difficult and dark topic into the world with hope and possibilities. Her children contributed to this book.

Dr. Heidi Klein is an expert in resilience and mindfulness; in January 2026, Kuntur Verlag published her resilience guide titled "Can I Do It? I Don't Understand That Question." This children's book, titled "On the Trail of the Lost Laughter," is her first children's book and the first in a planned series.
The subsequent children's books will address topics such as domestic violence, bullying, and many others that our society still far too often remains silent about and turns a blind eye to.

Book Details

Publication Date: September 1, 2026; now available for pre-order.
ISBN 978-3-911981-06-4
74 pages, fully illustrated
EUR19.90 (Germany) / EUR20.50 (Austria)
Target audience: Children ages 5 to 10, families, and professionals

Kuntur Veralg
Wasserturmstr. 1
85737 Ismaning
Germany

https://kuntur-verlag.com

Frau Deborah Bichlmeier
00491734624650

heldenreise@deborah-bichlmeier.com

Far More Than a Publishing House--A Movement

Kuntur Verlag was founded by Deborah Bichlmeier on April 1, 2025. Up to five books are published annually.

Kuntur Verlag creates books for and with people whose voices are often overlooked--and fosters knowledge, visibility, and tangible support where education is urgently needed. The publishing house supports those whose voices go unheard, who quietly endure their fate, and who never give up hope.

This release was published on openPR.