Whatever Comes Tomorrow - Rebecca Gardyn Levington - ★★★★★

AUTHOR: Rebecca Gardyn Levington

ILLUSTRATOR: Mariona Cabassa

GENRE: Children's Picture Book.

RATING: 5 Stars.

In a Nutshell: A beautiful book about handling ‘whatever comes tomorrow’ without worry.

The content is written in a conversational style, mixing questions of uncertainty and apprehension and feeding in answers of reassurance and hope. The simple rhythmic prose adds to the impact of the content, with the questions covering varied scenarios and how children could possibly handle them.

I remember reading this below thought a long time ago:

“There are two things you can do when you are faced with worry.

1. If you can do something about it, do it. Don’t waste time worrying.

2. If you cannot do something about it, it’s not in your control anyway. Why waste time worrying?”

This book is the perfect manifestation of this principle.

I loved the easy-going way in which the author delivers a powerful message. In today’s chaotic world, worry and anxiety aren’t restricted only to adult minds. The little gem teaches children how to manage their anxieties and deal with uncertainties.

The purpose of the book is, by itself, a great reason to pick it up. But what elevates the experience even further are the amazing illustrations. Each page glows in a burst of rainbow hues, and the colours are further enhances by the sketches of children in various actions and activities. The representation is as diverse as today’s books ought to be, with not just varied skin and hair colours but also varied body sizes.

At the end of the book, the author has included a note about the message and core purpose of the book, while also presenting techniques on managing worries.

While having an author’s note is a common feature of books, for the first time ever, I read a book with an illustrator’s note as well, describing the challenges of depicting sensations and emotions through art. I appreciated this inclusion. Rarely do we get to hear the illustrator’s voice, even though they are so instrumental in enhancing our experience of picture books.

Strongly recommended to every little child and their parents. It will also work well at counselling centres. The writing level will suit the age group of 4-9 years.

5 stress-free stars.

My thanks to Barefoot Books and Edelweiss+ for the DRC of “Whatever Comes Tomorrow”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.