Mophead has a problem. She has woken with a knot. It’s a big knot, and the more she ignores it, the bigger it gets. Soon it takes over everything and she feels small
and overcome by this all consuming knot.
We all can have this happen to us. A knot, or a problem appears, and the more we hope it will go away – the bigger it gets. Soon we can’t think about anything else…
This book from the talented and Multi Award winning Professor of English, Poet, and Author – Selina Tusitala Marsh, is for anyone (especially children) who might have a worry or a problem that just won’t go away.
Mophead’s Guide to Life is funny, thoughtful and a journal – giving you a place to write things down, draw and experiment with making your problem smaller and more manageable.
Children from all over Aotearoa New Zealand have sent her post it notes with their question or problem written down. These are the first things a reader sees when you open this book. This shows young readers that others might have the same problem, and straight away make their own worry not so isolating.
These Post It problems from young New Zealanders tore at my heart, and it’s wonderful that this book has been written for them and hopefully provides a solution or a place where worries, problems and knots can be unravelled, even if only a little at first.
There are 11 different knotty problems tackled in this book with creative ways of looking at the problem, with colour coded pages and humour. The text is large and clear and the illustrations and exercises fun and easy to understand.
Some of the knot untangling advice will also help young writers with their creative questions or conundrums.
This journal-styled book would be a great gift to any young person struggling with something, but unable to share their worries out loud. Writing or drawing problems down can be an essential first step in problem solving directions and parental, caregiver or teacher help.
Perfectly pitched at young people with a knot or problem.
Author / Illustrator – Selina Tusitala Marsh
Age – 8 – 80 years
(2023, Auckland University Press, Problems, Worries, Fears, Conundrums, Worry, Writing, Creativity, Solutions, Answers, Sharing problems, Writing, Drawing, Journal, Guide to Life, Self help)