Boys do cry by Gus Worland and Heath Mckenzie

The title anticipates the story of a young boy having a very bad day and feeling very caught up by it all. He struggles with the idea of bottling it all in until his father gives him a hug and the floodgates open.

At breakfast he is blamed for spilling the mlk and must clean it up, on the way to school a spaceship lands on his toe, and a platypus nibbles at his leg, causing a fall, a dragon wraps itself around his desk causing mayhem, and his sandwich runs away for him. He was feeling so glum and when he gets home, a few tears begin to fall, and father’s hug makes it all come out.

He feels a lot better and comes to realise that when he is feeling low, he should just cry and let his feelings out, so that he feels better all over again. 

Heath McKenzie’s illustrations carry the boy along, showing him in every situation, a little befuddled by how he is feeling and not knowing what to do. The look on his face tells volumes to the reader, from his squeezing his eyes tightly to prevent leakage, to the wonderful waterfall on the second to last page. Each face will speak to the readers, as they feel with the boy, trying hard not to cry but crying when he feels so overwhelmed that he cannot stop.  

McKenzie’s illustrations are full of humour, helping readers see that humour is a most important mental strength to develop.

An afterword by Worland outlines more of his ideas in presenting this book. Gus Worland is the founder of the charity, Gotcha4Life Foundation, devoted to  inspiring people of all ages to build up their mental well being and become stronger in knowing and sharing their feelings.

Themes: Mental wellbeing, Crying, Gender stereotypes, Humour.

Fran Knight