What does anxiety feel like? In Beat, Beat, Thump Allison Edwards shows how one child deals with the situations that causes him worry and stress. Edwards does not give you a “one true wayism” but it does allow itself to fall there if you let yourself not realize this is just one person and one person’s reaction to the stimulation around them. The fact the child/narrator does say “me words” helps with this concept being just one way of relaxing and finding a peaceful place. We see the anxieties and worries children face everyday from the forgetting to study for a test to friendship issues. These feelings are relatable to most children and adults alike.
And the action and events are nicely illustrated by Doneva Steliyana. You can judge this book and the art by the cover. The colors are bright, but not overwhelming, as well as they are soft and comforting. The details are what is needed to get the story across and helps set the mood as well. The nice thing about them is you can also read them and create the story that way. The book can adapt as needed.
I only read this book once (via an online reader copy on Edelweiss), but I do feel this could take a couple readings for the adult to be comfortable with it, to be able to find the right child for it, and to be ready for answering possible questions that arise. All ages can partake in the book, but it is for the slightly older children as the child of the story seems to be at least school age (kindergarten and up).