The Magic of Me: My Magical Choices

Today’s book is another non-fiction children’s book that aims to build confidence and good mental health in kids. If you’d like to read more reviews like this, check out this previous post: Mental & Emotional Health Books for Kids.

The Magic of Me: My Magical Choices
by Becky Cummings, Illustrated by Zuzana Svobodova
Children’s Non-Fiction, Ages 4-8

My Magical Choices is part of The Magic of Me series by Becky Cummings. It is beautifully illustrated and written in a sing-songy rhyming pattern that makes it an easy read-aloud book.

This book encourages children to take personal responsibility for their own mindset, and the development of their own character. It’s an empowering message that helps children see that they are not merely tossed around by what happens to them, but that they can affect what goes on around them with their attitude and actions.

I thought I detected some Christian lingo in this book, so I looked up the author and her other work. She is in fact a Christian, and some of her books emphasize this more clearly. Whether this is a pro or a con is up to you.

The choices addressed in this book are:
I choose to be responsible.
I choose to be helpful.
I choose to be patient.
I choose to be confident.
I choose to be generous.
I choose to be calm.
I choose to be brave.
I choose to be forgiving.
I choose to be a good sport.
I choose to be gentle.
I choose to be friendly.
I choose to be honest.
I choose to be fun.

I Choose to be a Good Sport

Play a game and try to have fun.
Say “good job” when it’s all done!
At times you win, at times you lose,
your attitude is what you chose.

– The Magic of Me: My Magical Choices

Here’s my list of credits and cautions.

Credits (What this book does well):

• The illustrations do a wonderful job of including many bipoc characters.

• I really like how this book describes an apology, and introduces the idea that trying making things right when you hurt someone should be part of the apology process. This is a much more thorough and mature discussion of apologies than you’ll find in most children’s books.

• I think this book would be very helpful for children with anxiety. I think it could help give them a sense of security and control over their lives.

Cautions (Be aware):

• This book always refers to two-parent households (“Mom and Dad” etc…), which will be noticed by a child with a single parent, or one who is living with grandparents, foster parents, etc…

• This book made me raise my eyebrows a few times. For example:
  
  It describes being confident as “being tough,” which I don’t really agree with. I know so many people who are confident enough to be vulnerable and show emotion. It’s is a trait that I admire and think is healthy. I think this was a poor choice of words on the author’s part.
  
  It also states that you can be brave, “without being rude.” I do know people who think that simply speaking up for oneself is rude, but I for one don’t want to teach my kids that. I want them to be brave enough to be assertive and say something when they are being mistreated. If protecting themselves from potential abuse, or refusing to participate in an activity they don’t feel safe doing is considered “rude,” then I’ll happily raise “rude” kids! Another unfortunate choice of words.
  
  I’m not certain if these examples happened simply to make the rhyme work, or if they actually reflect the author’s thoughts, but they made me think twice about this book.

• There are a few things that make this book a poor choice for autistic children. For one, being friendly = giving high fives and handshakes. A child who is uncomfortable with physical contact should not be forced to touch people, nor be accused of not being friendly. They can demonstrate their friendliness in other ways.
  
  Other phrases along the way, including the section “I Choose to Be Calm,” could easily be interpreted by a neurodivergent child as a command to mask/hide their discomfort and distress, which is unhelpful at best, and very dangerous at worst. This isn’t something that all families will need to be mindful of, of course, but as an autism parent these things stuck out like a neon sign.

In summary, I think this book addresses a really important topic for families, and it had a lot of potential. However, I personally liked the idea of this book more than its actual content.

©Ashley Lilley – First time commenting? Please read my Comment Policy.