Byll and Beth Stephen (text) and Simon Howe (illustrator), Boss of Your Own Mind, HarperCollins Publishers, December 2024, 22 pp., RRP $24.99 (hbk), ISBN 9780733342769
Co-authors and sisters Byll and Beth Stephen are the creators of an Aria award winning band Teeny Tiny Stevies who have since gone on to write a series of picture books which explore issues that are pertinent to a young audience such as family, sleep time, being brave and self-protective behaviours.
The newest addition to this series is Boss of Your Own Mind examining the notion that you control your thoughts and ideas. It explores big, abstract concepts in a simple way, with a repeated catchphrase “You’re the boss of your own mind” to reinforce the premise. Simon Howe has illustrated the books across the series, so there is a familiarity across the six titles, whilst the characters sometimes vary. His work is bright, energetic and engaging, perfectly reflecting the narrative and at times extending it. There is a catchy song for Boss of your Own Body available on YouTube, so perhaps one is coming for this new title too, which would further involve children.
For young children, pre-schoolers and preparatory students, this book would be best read in small chunks, taking time to explain concepts and vocabulary that may be unfamiliar, whilst older children would manage several pages at once. This also allows time to examine presented scenarios and discuss how readers may react to these and share similar experiences and strategies used.
Recommended for children 4-8 years old.
Reviewed by Bronwyn Joseph
