The Question

Winner, Literary Titan Gold Award

Adults will sometimes get it wrong in the questions that they ask. What do you want to be, my child, when your childhood has passed?

In this beautifully illustrated children’s book, a young narrator is faced with the age-old question: “What do you want to be when you grow up?” Instead of giving a traditional answer, however, this narrator poses a different question: “How will I be when I grow up?”

Through rhyming stanzas and vibrant pictures, The Question encourages children—and the adults in their lives—to think beyond societal expectations and focus on developing qualities that truly matter, like kindness, gratitude, and a positive mindset. This inspiring story will help young readers discover their unique paths and understand the importance of being a good and curious person, no matter what they choose to be when they grow up. The Question is a valuable resource for anyone who hopes to ignite a passion for reading and self-discovery in young minds.

Meredith J. Murray awoke one morning from a dream, grabbed a pen, and wrote The Question; most of the words simply fell out of her head and onto a page. However, the idea encompassed within The Question had been percolating in her brain—and heart—for many years. Alongside her husband, Meredith is parenting two children and thinks deeply, and often, about what it means to raise human beings. She has spent much of her life pursuing traditional and linear success; Meredith forged a path from academic superstardom to a career in the fast-paced world of technology. It took her many years, and well into adulthood, to understand what’s actually important in our time on Earth—gratitude for our everyday blessings, cultivation of community, and, ultimately, love. May we all remember to look up to find magic all around.