Mini & Milo: The teeny-tiny voice by Venita Dimos & Natashia Curtin

A story that leads readers to think about keeping themselves safe, defying the negative voice in their head which seeks to undermine and belittle. The book will find a willing audience as many children are more aware of their mental health, of needing to be positive and resilient, and this book is one which will encourage individual readers and a classroom or group to be positive.

Mini the elephant lives in a tiny house with a tiny bedroom and a tiny bed. Her best friend, Milo is practising to be a magician. Usually the voice in Mini’s head is supportive and encouraging, but now and again it goes the other way. Instead of saying ‘you can do it’ it says ‘everyone’s mean’ and ‘its not fair’.

The negative thoughts keep appearing, undermining everything she does. Try as she might, the voice is still there.

She tried various ways of getting the voice to keep quiet, all to no avail. But one day she has an idea. The teeny tiny voice in her head should follow her rules, just like Mini follows Mum’s rules. She and Milo write up a list of rules for the voice and tells it it must stick to them, reminding the voice of the rules whenever it strays. 'I’ve got this’ is the response that Mini uses whenever the voice begins its negative thoughts and together they follow the rules; kind words only, no whining, no telling me to do naughty stuff and no breaking the rules.

Children will love the ideas put forward in this humorous tale: that you can do something about the negative voice in your head, that you can be resilient and positive. The story encourages them to reject negative thoughts, to use positive and kind words only, to stop any whining and look to their friends for support.

Family dispute specialist, Venita Dimos has written a tale full of support for those living under a cloud, showing them a way to grapple that negative encumbrance and turn it into something positive.

Supported by very funny illustrations by Natashia Curtin, readers will love following Mini’s antics through the story as she tries to conquer the unkind thoughts in her head, succeeding when she plots a set of rules to guide the voice’s interruptions. I have never thought of an elephant being agile, but Curtin manages to show Mini in the most physical of activities, all of which seem most feasible. I loved following Mini through this story, seeing how she reacts to all that is imposed upon her until she takes stock and turns the voice around. 

Themes: Resilience, Mental health, Elephants, Friendship, Humour.

Fran Knight