The Magic Lantern

Some feelings are too big for words.
At least, that's what Ezra has always been told.

Ezra notices everything - the caterpillar before it turns into a butterfly, when a classmate is sad even before she says so, when the classroom feels heavy without anyone naming why. But at school, his feelings aren't welcome. "You're so sensitive, Ezra." "Just forget about it." So Ezra learns to push his feelings down and say the one word that makes everything easier: "I'm fine."

Until the night a small brass lantern appears on his windowsill - and everything changes.

The lantern has a secret: it glows brighter when Ezra speaks the truth. When he says "I'm fine," the flame barely flickers. But when he says what's really there - "I felt left out," "I was scared no one would want to play with me" - the lantern blazes warm and golden. Ezra discovers that naming a feeling doesn't make it bigger. It makes it small enough to carry.

With the quiet guidance of Auntie Jo, Ezra begins to find the words for what lives inside him - and to understand that his sensitivity isn't something to hide. It's how he pays attention to the world. And the world needs people who notice.

The Magic Lantern is a luminous, emotionally rich picture book for children ages 4-8 that teaches the lifesaving skill of emotional vocabulary: the ability to name what you feel, ask for help, and trust a safe person with the truth.

Perfect for:

• Children who have been told they're "too sensitive" or "too emotional"
• Classrooms and school counsellors exploring social-emotional learning (SEL)
• Families navigating big feelings, anxiety, or emotional suppression
• Read-aloud sessions for ages 4-8
• Gift giving for empathetic, deeply feeling children

Includes a Grown-Ups & Educators Note with discussion questions and child development context, plus a My Magic Lantern activity page children can colour, fill in, and keep.

Book 3 in The Magic Series - a growing collection of beautifully illustrated picture books, each teaching one essential emotional skill through a single magical object children can visualize and remember.

Also available in The Magic Series:
Book 1 - The Magic Circle: A Story About Self-Worth and Belonging
Book 2 - The Magic Shield: A Story About Resilience and Inner Strength