A Timeless Message
In You'll Grow Soon, Alex, a little boy named Alex wants to be tall. He does not like being the shortest boy and teased by other people. He wants to be taller so badly that he asks his mother and father, sister and teacher how to be taller. They all give Alex suggestions on how to grow: eat protein, exercise, sleep, and read. The last person he asks for advice is his very tall uncle. His uncle opens Alex's heart and shows him what growing is really about. His uncle shows him that there's more to being a big person than inches and feet. That is what makes this book so special. It is great for kids who struggle with self-esteem; it is a really positive book. The main theme throughout the story is self-esteem. The Journal of Youth and Adolescence did research into children's weight and height and their relationship to a child's attitude They found that "taller children have less body dissatisfaction" (p 64). Alex tells his family that he is not happy with himself; he does not think much of himself. He does not see all the wonderful gifts he has; he sees what others have that he does not. The journal also claims that height is one of the major factors in deciding how content a child is with his or her own body. The whole story involves Alex's trying to understand who he is. His family and even his teacher focus on his height, but his uncle is the only one who can read through Alex's question to see the real meaning behind it. Alex is really asking, "Am I special? Am I important?" His uncle nurtures him and lets him see what is really important - happiness.
The pictures and the font all work together to help the reader get involved in the story. The illustrations are fun; they look similar to a child's artwork. They allow the readers to see the story more through children's eyes. The drawings are not proportional and the people are not beautiful, but they are all fun. The font is not a traditional font. The type in the book is closer to handwriting than most and conveys the text in a more carefree manner.
In a world where people always struggle with identity and self worth, this book does a great job of focusing in on the important things in life. It is about being happy with oneself, giving hugs, smiling, and saying hello - caring. You'll Grow Soon, Alex is a picture book for children and adults that reminds them of the good things in life that they take for granted. You'll Grow Soon, Alex is great story with a timeless message.
Journal of Youth and Adolescence. New York New York: Kluwer Academic and Plenum Publishers: 62-70.
Hurray for short people
I'm short. You can't see me as you are reading this, but trust me, I am. And I spent a good deal of my childhood watching kids shoot up like weeds and wondering when it would happen to me. This is why I can relate so much to Alex. He's short too and tries everything he can think of to grow taller. But it takes advice from his very tall Uncle Danny to make him see that it's not what you have but what you do with it that makes a difference. A great story and not just for short people.
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