A USU student has started a children’s series and hopes to inspire others with his stories
A Boy and His Elephant is the first in a new series of children’s books written by Ethan Watson, a Cache Valley native and Utah State University student. The book aims to answer some of life’s greatest questions in the most simple and sincere ways.
During the summer of 2020, Watson realized that his calendar was looking fairly empty. This freed up time, due to COVID-19, allowed him to explore and prompted the idea for A Boy and His Elephant.
Watson believes that during the uncertainty of COVID-19, there are difficult questions that need to be addressed. He answered those questions in the simplest way he knew how; with a children’s book.
When Watson first wrote the book, he wasn’t sure what to do with it. After some encouragement from his family he decided to pursue getting it published. Watson contacted an old friend who had previously published a few books and asked for advice.
This first book in the series, A Boy and His Elephant, is about a young boy who seeks to know God. The boy wants to know God like many of his friends, teachers and family do. He goes on a short journey with an elephant and they go to find God together.
The book was released just before Christmas and has since sold 300 copies.
“We are so grateful for the overwhelming response to the book, and the incredibly touching feedback we have received. We hope to spread this message further and continue to touch lives,” Watson said.
According to Watson, the current climate in America inspired him to create something positive.
“The book came to be out of a process of so much negativity surrounding things like COVID and politics. I think there are more important things that people should turn their attention to,” Watson said. “Giving them something to start that conversation or bring it back up and having some positive media out there is always important. That’s our message.”
Watson is a 22-year-old doctoral student at USU. He graduated from USU with a bachelor’s degree in Communicative Disorders and Deaf Education. He is currently working on completing a four-year graduate program and then plans to pursue a career as a pediatric audiologist. He plans to continue writing and hopes to create a series of books that address some of life’s more complex questions with the simplest and sincerest answers.
“As I have grown older, I have realized that just because life gets increasingly more complex, the answers do not need to do so,” Watson said. “In fact, there is purity and relief in simple, hopeful answers. This story comes from confronting a personal endeavor in which I’m sure I am not alone.”
The series illustrator, Jessica Talbot, is a sixth grade teacher in Smithfield, Utah. She attended USU and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education. Talbot loves to draw in her spare time. She hopes to continue to teach and inspire children while also using her talents to help others and bring joy to her life.
In this uneasy time, Watson and Talbot hope to spread a message of hope and joy. Watson has learned that everyone has a unique relationship with God and he encourages everyone to seek God.
Watson believes that as individuals seek God, they will find him in their own time and in their own way. “We do list it as a children’s book but we believe it is a book that has a message for everyone,” he added.
There are not currently any dates set for a second book in the series, but they do plan to publish more. To read more about A Boy and His Elephant and its author and illustrator, visit their website at walkwithanelephant.com
kellie.christensen@aggiemail.usu.edu