INNER

A child travels through nature seeking fulfillment.

Whimsical illustrations depict a Black child with Afro puffs asking where peace, joy, kindness, and freedom can be found. The answer: “Go inner.” The protagonist leads readers on an adventure through floral fields, a lively stream, a herd of elephants, a flock of birds, a rainy forest, and—record scratch—atop a tree befriending swinging monkeys, a problematic inclusion given the long racist history of linking Black people to monkeys. The book doubles down with an image of the child covering their mouth next to a monkey covering its ears and another with paws over its eyes, a reference to the three wise monkeys, a Japanese pictorial maxim. Though the book offers a positive message of finding friendship, love, and power within, the use of harmful imagery overshadows any benefits. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

A well-intentioned attempt at fostering mindfulness marred by problematic tropes.