A Serious Thought
Author & Illustrator: Jonas Taul
Groundwood Books
Ages: 4 and up
A Serious Thought explores the frightening thoughts of a young boy who has questions about his place in the world. He starts to believe his existence cannot matter because he is such a small piece of it.
Anxiety and fears are the most overlooked aspects of children’s lives. Anxiety is commonly an internalized issue; therefore, a child who appears to be happy and excited about activities may still be dealing with emotions that he/she does not quite understand.
In a world that is constantly growing more negative with each passing day, our children are faced with questions and thoughts that are overwhelming and frightening for such young minds. At times, they may not understand their new emotions, or know the importance of discussing them with adults; this is when a disconnect occurs, and there is a risk of severe anxiety and depression.
A Serious Thought explores the frightening thoughts of a young boy who has questions about his place in the world. He starts to believe his existence cannot matter because he is such a small piece of it.
He begins to have trouble sleeping as frightening thoughts and dreams take over, which then results in him distancing himself from people and not being able to enjoy things that he once loved.
Throughout the story, the boy comes across small animals that appear to enjoy life regardless of their size, compared to everything around them. Slowly, the boy begins to accept that no matter how small a part he plays, he can still enjoy the beautiful world he lives in.
Jonas Taul uses a perfect combination of illustrations and wording to create a realistic look into a young child’s mind. He addresses a matter that is not typically acknowledged, or recognized, but that is important to address for the mental health of our children.
It gladdens me to see more options for books about these issues–books that address young children in a way that allow them to comprehend new feelings and thoughts they are experiencing.
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More books for this Age Group can be found here.
My thanks to Groundwood Books for providing a Review Copy of this book. All opinions provided herein are my own.
Please, leave comments! I love a HEALTHY exchange of ideas. After all, critical thinking is essential to life.
Ashley Borrego–Contributor
Ashley is a teacher, a photographer, crafter, and a small business owner. She lives in Hawaii with her husband, two young children, 170lb Great Dane, and 2 cats. She received her Masters degree in Early Childhood Special Education from University of Maryland, and is pursuing a degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders. You can checkout her business here.
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