Most people think picture books are for children.

I don’t.

Some of the most profound truths I’ve encountered aren’t hidden inside dense psychology texts or self-help books. They’re tucked inside stories that can be read in five minutes.

Children’s books have a unique way of bypassing our defenses. They don’t argue. They don’t lecture. They simply show us something familiar from a different angle.

A child reading a story might see an adventure.

An adult reading the same story might recognize their own fear, grief, loneliness, hope, or longing.

As a therapist, I’ve spent years helping people understand themselves more deeply. As an author, I’ve become increasingly interested in another question:

Why do certain stories stay with us long after childhood?

Why are we drawn to particular characters, themes, and narratives?

And what might those stories reveal about who we are?

This blog is where I’ll explore those questions.

Sometimes we’ll look at children’s books.

Sometimes we’ll talk about psychology, personal growth, relationships, creativity, or parenting.

Sometimes we’ll examine the stories we tell ourselves and whether they’re still serving us.

My hope is that you’ll leave with new ways of understanding both the books you love and the person reading them.

Thanks for being here.

— Bridget Kleinert, LCSW