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Bright colors shimmer over voluminous cascading pages along with stellar quotes from inspirational celebrities like Oprah Winfrey, Wayne Dyer, Sid Simon, Terry Cole-Whittaker, Jack Canfield, Louise Hay, Susan Jeffers, Joy Wilt, Nelson Mandela, and Marianne Williamson. To the background of teachable phrases such as "Be your own cheerleader" and "It's O.K. to make mistakes," a plethora of evocative images by Khary Guerra-Olivares attract the eyes of readers. For example, a terrified mom sneaks up on a green-and-black fanged snake behind plants. A rooster lands in the center of an innocent flower. A bespectacled grannie scoots across a page on a skateboard. And a ballerina flies through the twinkling sky, brimming with starlight.
The author discusses what she learns from the quotes, as well, and shares how she feels about herself in the process. For instance, she disarmingly reveals that she can give and receive feedback to correct herself, that she doesn't have to be perfect, and that she is fine just the way she is. She describes risks she has taken in her own life and what went into her writing process, such as corresponding with an author she didn't even know. Where the quotes are drawn from is reflected in a list of books in the back in case readers choose to continue down this adventuresome path.
The reader's inner child will celebrate, become enthralled, and skip and dance with the butterflies and other delightful creatures throughout the journey. Penn and Guerra-Olivares are to be commended for having collaborated on creating such a splendid pictorial story. Their book is a perfect gift for someone of any age who is depressed or discouraged with life or needs help navigating the trials and tribulations of growing up or moving on.
RECOMMENDED by the US Review