Big Boys Cry by Charlotte Moncrieff

Big Boys Cry by Charlotte Moncrieff

Illustrated by Helena Maxwell

It’s Billy’s seventh birthday and no one is more excited than he is to finally be a big boy! At the park later that day, Billy finds himself in tears after getting hurt in a small accident. When a passing stranger scolds him, telling him that ‘Big Boys don’t cry - only silly ones do’, Billy questions what it means to be a big boy. Thankfully, Mum and Dad and some new friends help Billy understand that crying is normal and that everyone does it, including some of Billy’s favourite and most admired members of his family.

For many boys today, there is a fear that expressing emotion is seen as a sign of weakness. This only becomes more evident as they move from boyhood into adolescence.

This book helps parents frame emotions in a positive light, normalising the idea that all boys cry, whether they are seven years old, in the armed forces, a fireman or a father – all big boys cry, it does not make them silly!

Information about the Book

Title: Big Boys Cry

Author: Charlotte Moncrieff

Release Date: 30^th July 2019

Genre: Children’s

Page Count: 32 pages

Publisher: Clink Street Publishing

Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/47465940-big-boys-cry

Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Big-Boys-Cry-Charlotte-Moncrieff/dp/1913136116

My Review

Big Boys Cry is a nicely illustrated children's book that delivers a great message.
It's a story about a little boy who receives a bike for his birthday. Excited, but still nervous about
learning to ride without training wheels, he gives it a shot. But when he takes a tumble and starts to cry, a mean woman scolds him for doing so. It's then up to his parents to explain to him that it is
okay to cry.
I think this is a nice story that showcases emotions in a positive way. It's a story that tells kids,
especially boys, that there's no reason to hide their emotions. That crying is perfectly normal,
and it doesn't make them weak or a baby or any other negative connotation society has
decided to label them with.
My four-year old son and I enjoyed reading this book together, and I think parents should read Big Boys Cry with their kids (both boys and girls). It's a good lesson in taking away
the taboo of the male species showing any emotion that isn't deemed "masculine" enough.
4 stars from me.

Author Information

Charlotte Moncrieff (27) is an ambassador for MQ Mental Health Research Charity and is based in Lon-don (Brixton). With a man taking his life every two hours in Britain, Charlotte is motivated to start the conversation about males and their emotions even earlier and is a big believer in prevention over cure. Charlotte is also the founder of the Twenty Mile Club, an online platform that seeks to inspire savvy twenty-something’s through entrepreneurship and passion projects.

Illustrator Information

Helena Maxwell (26) is an illustrator and artist who is passionate about spreading mental health aware-ness. Helena has worked with Charlotte to produce the visuals for Big Boys Cry and hopes to show the next generation of males and females that it is OK to express emotion regardless of gender. Helena has previously worked for clients such as The Sunday Times, Elbow Productions and Shortbook Publishers.

Instagram: http://instagram.com/bigboyscry

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