This Thing Has a Name by Amanda Bacon-Davis (Author), Jinjer Markley (Illustrator)
In the heartwarming children’s book, This Thing Has a Name, Amanda Bacon-Davis takes us on a delightful adventure that encourages young readers to understand and embrace their emotions. With its empowering message, this book helps children normalize and navigate feelings like fear, anger, and anxiety, fostering emotional intelligence and well-being.
Amanda skillfully introduces the concept of anxiety and depression in a way that young minds can grasp. Through relatable examples and vivid illustrations by Jinjer Markley, she paints a picture of what these feelings might look and feel inside a child’s body and mind. By teaching kids to recognize and understand their emotions early on, the book equips them with resilience skills to guide them through life’s ups and downs.
“The only way out is to go all the way in; I must feel all these feelings to let the healing begin.”
One of the standout lessons is the importance of staying with our feelings rather than running away from them. The author beautifully expresses this sentiment through a memorable line: “I won’t run away, I won’t jump on the train. I’ll do something I love, like dance in the rain!” This message encourages children to find joy and comfort even when anxiety or fear is present.
Furthermore, Amanda highlights the significance of support from loved ones during challenging times. The book reminds us that it’s okay not to be okay and that there are people who care for us. The touching line, “The people that love me said I’m full of AMAZE. Because I’m working on healing… New trails I must blaze!” instills a sense of hope and reassurance that we can overcome difficulties with the help of those who cherish us.
This Thing Has a Name also emphasizes the availability of various tools to assist children during challenging moments. The captivating illustrations guide readers from chaos and darkness to finding inner peace, symbolized by beautiful flowers and serene gardens. These visual metaphors inspire young hearts to seek solace and discover their strength.
As a parent, I highly recommend This Thing Has a Name for any child experiencing anxiety, no matter the scale. This book opens up a dialogue about emotions and instills a sense of empowerment and resilience. It’s a valuable resource that resonates with children and adults alike.”
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About the author (2022)
Amanda Bacon-Davis is a successful businesswoman, entrepreneur, and a proud advocate supporting the mental health community. She has a beautiful daughter, Ella Rain, two amazing bonus kids (who are actually wonderful adults), and the most loving husband in the world. Amanda and her family live on the Seacoast of New Hampshire with their two dogs, Dog-Dog (featured in the book) and Halo. When she is not writing, Amanda’s favorite thing to do is belly-laugh with her family.
For more info, visit www.thisthinghasaname.com
About the Illustrator
Jinjer Markley is an illustrator from Minneapolis, MN. Her formal training is in science, but she still loves to draw. Besides drawing, she loves helping people understand things, dancing, ice-skating, bike riding, cooking overly complicated meals, anything Japanese, hanging out with her family, and the magic of making things by hand. Jinker is available for commissions on Upwork. Click here to learn more about the illustrator.
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