Children's Book Review for The Question by Meredith J. Murray, Jo Blake (illustrator)

 

The Question by Meredith J. Murray, Jo Blake (illustrator)

February 11, 2025 by Blue Balloon Books

Winner, Literary Titan Gold Award

Taken from Amazon:  Adults will sometimes get it wrong in the questions that they ask. What do you want to be, my child, when your childhood has passed?

In this beautifully illustrated children’s book, a young narrator is faced with the age-old question: “What do you want to be when you grow up?” Instead of giving a traditional answer, however, this narrator poses a different question: “How will I be when I grow up?”

Through rhyming stanzas and vibrant pictures, The Question encourages children—and the adults in their lives—to think beyond societal expectations and focus on developing qualities that truly matter, like kindness, gratitude, and a positive mindset. This inspiring story will help young readers discover their unique paths and understand the importance of being a good and curious person, no matter what they choose to be when they grow up. The Question is a valuable resource for anyone who hopes to ignite a passion for reading and self-discovery in young minds.

My Thoughts:  My first thought was that this is a book that most adults, including myself, need to read.  Let’s encourage children to be themselves and find the life that makes them happy.

This book is full of calm pictures.  They have great colors but are not so busy that they would be too much for a young child.  The illustrations tell the story but the words do need to be read for the story to be told.  The illustrations go perfect with the story and I LOVE the little girl, those big green eyes and curly hair are wonderful. 

Teach the children to be themselves not fall into a mold or settle for being what is expected.   This book is the perfect story to share that lesson. 

Thank you Blue Balloon Books for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

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Meet the Author (taken from Blue Ballon Books website):  Meredith Murray awoke one morning from a dream, grabbed a pen, and wrote The Question; most of the words simply fell out of her head and onto a page. However, the idea encompassed within The Question had been percolating in her brain—and heart—for many years. Alongside her husband, Meredith is parenting two children and thinks deeply, and often, about what it means to raise human beings. She has spent much of her life pursuing traditional and linear success; Meredith forged a path from academic superstardom to a career in the fast-paced world of technology. It took her many years, and well into adulthood, to understand what’s actually important in our time on Earth—gratitude for our everyday blessings, cultivation of community, and, ultimately, love. May we all remember to look up to find magic all around.