Hold That Thought!
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Hold That Thought!
In the middle of the night,
Finn was awakened by something rustling
Around inside their head.
It wasn’t heavy like a worry,
it didn’t swirl like a fear,
and it certainly wasn’t shaped like a question.
It was an idea! (p. 3-4)
In the middle of the night, Finn wakes their sleeping brother Oscar to tell him about their new idea. At first, the idea is “bright with hope,” but “fuzzy” and hard to describe. Oscar encourages Finn to hold on to the idea because “There’s no telling what it could turn into.” Finn goes back to sleep to dream about the new idea.
On the way to school, Finn describes the idea to their best friend Sima, and Sima urges Finn to think about it until it comes together. The friends discuss the possibilities until the idea looks more like a concrete possibility. Eleanor, Finn’s reading buddy at school, encourages Finn to talk about the idea with others. At the end of the day, Finn encounters Otis who calls the idea “weird” because it is so different from anything he has ever seen.
Finn is distraught at Otis’s criticism. The idea seems to shrink as their doubts increase. When Finn takes another look at the idea, Finn sees that it is, “Exactly how it should be!” After Finn shares the idea, almost everyone wants to be part of it. However, Otis is still critical until he starts thinking about the possibilities and sharing them. “Everything amazing started with an idea, and there was no telling where this one would go!”
Bree Galbraith’s picture book starts with the genesis of Finn’s idea but moves on to its evolution in a community. Finn’s challenge is to describe and share the idea with others in order to make it better. Readers never find out the exact details, but they share in the process of working on the idea. The story is told in lyrical style which will definitely appeal to young children. The abstract concept of having an idea might be difficult for some readers to grasp, but Finn’s infectious enthusiasm helps readers to relate to the situation.
Finn is a vibrant, intelligent, and creative character. Finn uses the gender-neutral pronouns “they/them” while their friends use gender-specific pronouns. The gender-neutral references to Finn will be a validation for some readers of this picture book. However, some readers might be confused at first by the use of the third person plural for Finn. This book does not focus on gender but rather on Finn’s inspiration and its result. Finn’s friends and family support the idea – even though they don’t really understand it. The empathy of others and the resulting collaboration are refreshing. At a time when many children faced long periods of isolation due to pandemic restrictions, a story about friends supporting each other is important.
Lynn Scurfield’s illustrations are inspired. She begins the story using intense dark hues while Finn’s idea is born in the middle of the night. The idea is presented as a luminous cloud-like shape above Finn’s head. The children in Finn’s class are a multicultural group who enjoy talking about their feelings and ideas. They support each other: “The friends gathered all the parts…” The illustrations are realistic and vibrant. In the library, some children are reading, some are sleeping, and some are whispering. The idea continues to float in glowing shapes above Finn’s head until she encounters Otis who sees Finn’s idea as “weird” and rock-like. At first, Finn is discouraged by his lack of support, but then Finn sees the possibilities of the idea once more. It begins to glow again! With the support of peers, the idea has become a beautiful and colorful mixture of shapes and images.
Hold That Thought! could be used by teachers as a read-aloud in order to explain the abstract concepts of ideas and imagination. Readers might have a challenging time with the open-ended text. The story could provide the basis for very lively discussion with parents, caregivers, or teachers about topics such as: creativity, collaboration, imagination, community, empathy, sharing, and friendship. Bree Galbraith’s dedication leaves readers with a powerful message, “To all the kids who know that their ideas won’t change the world unless they share them, this book is for you.”
Myra Junyk is a literacy advocate and author in Toronto, Ontario.