The Mama Amma Series
Foreword Clarion Reviews
Clarion Rating: 4 out of 5
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With affirmations for all, Malachi and the Inner Light is a powerful picture book that imparts hope and healing to families experiencing growing pains. In Mama Amma’s sensitive picture book Malachi and the Inner Light, a boy’s troubled relationship with his parents is transformed.
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Malachi is only seven but feels he’s well on his way to becoming a man. He can’t understand why his parents keep insisting that he clean his room, do his homework, eat his vegetables, and choose friends who don’t get into trouble. Communication between Malachi and his parents broke down once he left his cute toddler stage; they stopped praising him for every new achievement, and their threats and punishments made him feel bad. Often, he wonders where the kind, loving parents he once knew went. Now, he’s resistant to, and resentful about, his parents’ expectations. Still, he wishes that he had someone who could teach him how to be, as trying to talk to his parents only leads to arguments.
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A visit from Malachi’s heavenly guide provides the comfort, understanding, and encouragement that he needs. Gentle in assuring him that the goodness of the source of all dwells within him and that he will grow to be a great man if he follows his inner light, the guide gives him a powerful affirmation to remind him that he is never alone. The guide also tells Malachi that, in order to be treated like a young man, he has to take on a young man’s attitudes and responsibilities. Malachi knows that something within him has changed.
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The book’s rhyming lines crescendo when Malachi’s parents realize that they have been too hard on their bright, sensitive son. They apologize and ask for his forgiveness. They also help him to understand the rules they have set for him, give him more leeway, and schedule regular times for family fun.
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The book’s bright illustrations capture Malachi’s facial expressions and body language as his emotions change from frustration, anger, and sadness to awe, forgiveness, and love. They feature strong elements that exalt Black American roots and culture: Malachi’s room is decorated with posters of majestic African animals and pictures of Black leaders; his companion, an action figure of an African king, serves as a potent reminder of his own potential.
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With affirmations for all, Malachi and the Inner Light is a powerful picture book that imparts hope and healing to families experiencing growing pains.
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Online Book Club: 4 out of 4 stars
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In Malachi and the Inner Light, by Mama Amma, Malachi is a seven-year-old boy struggling with his relationship with his parents. He doesn’t understand why they are always saying he is a bad boy. He tries to be good, but he feels his parents are always harping on him about his friends, cleaning his room, and eating his vegetables.
Malachi is in trouble again and is sent to his room without supper. He is understandably upset and doesn’t understand why his parents treat him the way they do. While pondering his situation, he suddenly wishes for someone who could teach him how to be what his parents want him to be. Malachi’s dream comes true when a heavenly guide appears to help him realize he has an inner light. Come along on this journey with Malachi and learn about his inner light and how it can help him through life and difficult situations.
This book boldly takes on a common issue with parents and children. All children, at one time or another, get upset with their parents and don’t understand why rules and punishments exist. What I liked about this book is that Malachi learns to look inward for strength and guidance in his life. Another thing I liked about the book is that Malachi is not the only one learning life lessons. His parents have a change of heart and realize the effect their parenting style is having on their son. The book is concluded with a heart-to-heart chat between Malachi and his parents, bringing them closer together.
I liked everything about the book except for the cover. The book is beautifully illustrated, so I would have liked to see a more inviting cover. Also, the cover doesn’t represent the book’s content, in my opinion.
My rating for Malachi and the Inner Light is 4 out of 4 stars. This book is professionally edited and error-free. The book is written for children and does not contain any profanity. It is spiritual in nature but not religious. This is a wonderful book with many lessons to be learned and discussed between adults and children. The book also provides a nice mantra that can be repeated to help children remind themselves that they have an inner light and strength.
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Malachi and the Inner Light is a children’s picture book about a seven-year-old boy who isn’t getting along with his parents. The story promotes the idea that by using their inner strength and understanding parental motives, children will be more cooperative.
Malachi is quarreling with his parents about many things, including cleaning his messy room, doing his homework, and eating his vegetables. When he falls asleep, Malachi's "heavenly guide" appears. The heavenly guide tells Malachi he has an inner light that he must follow and that everything will work out. The heavenly guide explains that Malachi's parents love him very much, even when they appear to be mad at him, and that there are reasons for their demands. By the book’s end, Malachi's parents realize they, too, need to make some attitude adjustments.
The story, written primarily in rhyme, has a spiritual sensibility, with the “heavenly guide” instructing Malachi that “The Light within me will always shine!/ The Light within me is so divine!/ Wherever I go and whatever may be/[…] The Source of the Light is in me!””
The author promotes valuable ideas — for conversations to be productive, parents and children need to be good listeners, understand each others' views and feelings, and work together to resolve differences...
The illustrations are colorful, capture the boy’s emotions, and picture diverse characters.
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In this debut graphic short story for children, a young boy learns about the divine light within himself.
Malachi, a 7-year-old Black child, is sent to his room without dinner to think about his misbehavior. His parents also order
him to clean his room. He’s both sad and angry, reflecting that “When I mess up and make a mistake, they scold and
punish me. I sometimes wish I had someone to teach me how to be!” Malachi wishes his parents would catch him doing
the right thing, and he misses being younger, with no expectations to meet. Instead of cleaning his room, he resentfully
puts on pajamas and goes to bed, accompanied by his ankh-wearing Egyptian action figure. “It’s just you and me, King,”
he whispers, the ankh glowing as the boy’s eyes close.
Then, a shining, white-clad, dark-skinned “heavenly guide” appears to Malachi in response to his desire for a teacher. The angelic being has an encouraging message: the kingdom of heaven is within Malachi; his parents love him and their rules have reasons; and he is blessed. The guide explains how Malachi can meditate and pray to connect with his inner light. Encouraged, Malachi cleans his room; later, his parents apologize for being so harsh and make amends. In her inspirational tale, written in rhyming couplets, Amma provides spiritual affirmations at a level that kids can understand. Malachi gets it immediately, but readers may need more support.
Wisely, the story acknowledges that Malachi’s parents also need to change: “We’re no longer calling you a ‘bad boy,’ /
That’s just not right to do.” Drumond, a prolific illustrator of children’s books, contributes somewhat stiff and flat digital
pictures that offer nice details and contribute to the storytelling. For example, the angelic guide predicts Malachi will be “a
very great man” and the boy pictures himself as a distinguished adult with four diplomas on his wall.
A balanced, warmhearted tale about transformation for both kids and parents.
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"I really enjoyed reading Malachi and The Inner Light because as a fellow child of light I can relate to tapping into my childlike imagination and curiosity when I was his age. I really loved how he prayed for wisdom to better understand his situation. Although this is a children's book, it taught a great lesson about having empathy towards others. Malachi's inner light taught him how to better understand his parents. Malachi listened and started making positive changes. I really loved how his parents also showed empathy towards him and made better parenting choices. I can't wait to share this book with my son to remind both of us to be empathetic and communicate with each other. I highly recommend this book for children and parents. I would love to see more books like this from Mama Amma."
Shalena D.I.V.A. Broaster,
Founder of Best Selling Year, LLC
