Title: Look Within
Subtitle: A Story About Discovering the Key to Success
Author: Miles McAlister
Publisher: Sound and Color Productions
ISBN: 979-8438592457
Pages: 35
Genre: Illustrated Children’s Book / Self-Improvement
Reviewed by: Beth Adams

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Being lost and confused as a youth, creates a daunting obstacle in which it is needed to overcome in growth to be successful in life.  This story begins with the opening scene as a young boy is meditating, looking at his reflection in a puddle, with tears in his eyes and feeling hopelessly lost.  All of a sudden, a man appears; strong, well-dressed, powerful in stature and exhibiting wisdom, kindness and deep-routed knowledge.  The man asks the boy why is he so sad, when the lad replies, “I want to be like you.”

Within the text of Look Within, author Miles McAlister depicts a timeless story with an ever-powerful moral revealing the foundation for self-improvement.  Articulated with a minimal of dialogue yet heavily laden with images, this book pages with a pace perfectly laid out for readers to be both intrigued by the story and educated by the content at the same time.  I must pay exceptional compliments to the illustrator, Kartikao, who created a world reminiscent of ancient aristocrats with wardrobes and hairstyles which visually “speak” thousands of words by the imagery showcasing the elements fundamental to the moral of this story.

Subtitled, A Story About Discovering the Key to Success, is precisely how the book unfolds.  The boy is told of 3 steps he must take in order to achieve his dream’s goal – that of becoming more like the older, powerful mentor.  The sequence of events which follow, as well as the emotional ending, has a balanced and unforgettable theme.  The character of this young boy can be easily assimilated as a role model for many youngsters fortunate enough to read this book; especially those who are lost and seeking guidance.

As illustrated children’s book work’s best when the moral of the story is both positive and powerful.  Miles McAlister’s Look Within:  A Story About Discovering the Key to Success ranks among the best-in-class.  The combination of the book’s theme, along with the most intriguing images imaginable, synergistically make this book a must-have for youngsters’ libraries.  It will be a book often picked up and read over-and-over again, plus finding out what those 3 keys are is the secret value inherent in this book – which very well may literally change the lives of those who read it.