It began as a letter
When the Sky Feels Heavy started as a letter Luciana wrote to herself on a difficult day, in the thick of her own postpartum depression.
Muted Moments
When the sky
feels heavy
A heartfelt children's book that honours the strength and love of Mums. For little hands to hold, and for mothers to feel seen.
Written by Luciana Valbuena · Illustrated by Catalina Bobadilla
From psychologists to teachers, and most importantly, Mums. everyone loves this book.
- Psychologists
- Midwives
- Teachers
- Poets
- and most importantly, Mums
A book you can feel before you read it
Catalina Bobadilla's illustrations carry the whole story on their own. The sky shifts, the heart glows, and a small companion stays close through all of it.
See more of the book
A story for the days that feel heavy
Some days the sky sits low. This is a gentle story about those days, written for children, but holding a quiet message for the grown-up reading it aloud.
It opens a conversation that is often difficult to begin: that mothers can feel sad, that the feeling passes, and that asking for help is a kind of strength.
Endorsed by psychologists, poets and midwives, it was written to say one thing plainly: this feeling is common, it passes, and you are not the only one.
The journey
From a hard day to a book in your hands
It became a book
Illustrated by Catalina Bobadilla, it grew into a picture book for little hands to hold, and for mothers to feel seen in.
Now it travels
Into homes, libraries, clinics and waiting rooms across Aotearoa, wherever a mother might need to hear that she is not alone.
Elsewhere
Where the book, and the conversation around it, have turned up.
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Global campaign One of the featured personal stories in Lancôme’s worldwide women’s mental health initiative, created with the ADAA.
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Personal story Luciana’s account published by the Anxiety and Depression Association of America.
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Feature “Worried about worrying: new literature wave offers lessons for all ages.”
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Interview “It opens the door to conversations we often don’t have.”
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Magazine A year as a contributing writer.
- Radio New Zealand
Interview Speaking about maternal mental health and the book.
In the press
Luciana’s story, told worldwide
In October 2026 Lancôme launched “I’m Fine”, a global initiative on women’s mental health created with the Anxiety and Depression Association of America and HealthyWomen. Luciana was invited to share her own experience as one of the campaign’s personal stories, alongside voices including Demi Moore and Christy Turlington.
“The biggest lesson I learned from this experience was to be humble and understanding with myself.”
- 1 in 3
- women will experience anxiety or depression in her lifetime
- 80%
- of women have said “I’m fine” when they were not
- 72%
- regret hiding how they really felt
Ipsos for Lancôme, 4,000 women across France, the UK, the USA and China (2025–26); ADAA, The Reality of Women’s Mental Health (2026).
If today feels heavy, start here
We keep a page of support services for mothers in Aotearoa and around the world: helplines, peer groups and specialists who understand postnatal depression and anxiety. No sign-up, no cost, no judgement.
Find support near you