Book teaches lesson of making a difference

IT’S ALMOST year-end and everyone is tired and most of us tend to forget the little lessons that can ease the pressure, lighten the load and bring goodwill.

A children’s book titled Thank you, Jackson – How One Little Boy Makes a Big Difference offers a heart-warming and an encouraging message of how a little kindness goes a long way. It’s written by Niki Daly and illustrations are by Jude Daly.

Thank you, Jackson is an exceptional example of the magic created in books. The story is complemented by colourful illustrations.

While many children’s books teach life lessons with quirky bugs, monkeys, bees, bears, even fierce tigers, it’s not often the humble donkey steals the show.

Thank you, Jackson breaks that mould. The story is set in a rural area, with a farmer with a wife named Beauty, a son named Goodwill and, of course, a donkey, named Jackson. For the most part, Jackson is presented as an animal with a happy disposition, always ready to work hard on the farm, transporting the farmer’s goods to market every morning without complaint.

But Jackson, like all of us, has an off day and stops halfway up the hill he trudges up daily and refuses to go any further. The farmer resorts to screaming and, eventually, threatens to beat the animal.

This is where the lesson is inserted gen- tly into the story, when the farmer’s son, Goodwill, comes to Jackson’s rescue.

Could Goodwill’s whispered words save the day?

AUTHOR: Niki Daly.

Thank you, Jackson – How One Little Boy Makes a Big Difference, HEART-WARMING: by Niki and Jude Daly

ILLUSTRATOR: Jude Daly.