Big Boys Cry: A Tale of Emotions and Understanding
"Big Boys Cry" by Jonty Howley is a heartwarming children's book that challenges traditional notions of masculinity and encourages emotional expression. The story follows a young boy named Levi who is going to have his first day at school. Scared Levi, his father told him big boys don't cry. As he goes off to walk to his school, he encounters various characters who embody different stereotypes of masculinity, such as old men, young men, men who have children, men who don’t, rich men, and not-so-rich men, and much more. All of these men that Levi found, were crying, and that slowly changed his perspective on what his father said earlier. Once he got to school, he felt okay and that school wasn’t as scary as he thought. Later he walked back to his home, and he recollected the things he saw today and concluded that it's okay for boys to cry. Soon he finds his father crying in front of their house. Levi asks why he cries and to his surprise, his father is crying because he is afraid of his son’s first day of school, at the end, Levi comforts his father by saying big boys do indeed cry.
One of the central themes of "Big Boys Cry" is the deconstruction of gender stereotypes. Traditional notions of masculinity dictate that boys should refrain from showing vulnerability or expressing sadness. However, the book challenges these stereotypes by portraying Levi as he sees the people surrounding him experience the feeling of sadness and weeping tears freely despite their age, position, etc. Soon Levi made up his mind by accepting that it is ok for men to cry. Empathy is a fundamental aspect of emotional intelligence, and "Big Boys Cry" catalyzes its development in young readers. By immersing themselves in Levi’s experiences, children learn to understand and empathize with the emotions of others. The book encourages conversations about empathy, just like how the story shows Levi’s father feeling empathy towards his son, despite him telling Levi that boys don’t cry, he cried nonetheless because he knows that his son was nervous for his first day of school.
"Big Boys Cry" sends a powerful message about the importance of emotional authenticity regardless of gender and shows that despite how masculine men can be seen they are still human. The illustrator uses bright colors and unique shapes, and sizes, and many kinds of people with different kinds of positions weeping all around and crying in public with no care. Freely expressing their sadness.
In a world that often downplays the importance of emotional intelligence, "Big Boys Cry" emerges as a beacon of hope, promoting empathy, self-acceptance, and authenticity. By challenging gender stereotypes and celebrating vulnerability, the book inspires children to embrace their emotions and cultivate meaningful connections with others. Through its engaging narrative and universal themes, "Big Boys Cry" leaves a lasting impact on readers of all ages, reminding us that it's okay to feel, to express, and, most importantly, to be true to ourselves, because despite our gender, our position and our age, we are human, and crying is a human thing to do.
If you are interested, watch a read-out-loud video on the link that is provided down below!
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