This children's book uses the same style of innocent imagery that can be seen in most other books of its kind, but rather than tell an uplifting story it aims to create awareness of the issues facing many troubled adolescents in underprivileged communities.
It is quite common for troubled youth with behavioral issues to be written off as bad seeds or impossible to rehabilitate, but what is less noted is the fact that many of these teenagers face traumatic problems that affect their perspectives and behavior in their daily lives. 'Welcome to My Neighborhood' was recently released by the marketing agency 'VML' in a collaboration with 'Youth Ambassadors.' The seemingly innocent picture book reveals some of the issues that troubled adolescents face in regards to poverty, domestic abuse and gun violence. The issues are often hidden and end up coming to light in other ways that include behavioral problems, drug addiction, poor performance in school and self-harm.
This picture book is not as childlike as it appears at first glance, but it makes a poignant statement that raises awareness of the issues that cause some children and teenagers to lose their youth too young.
Troubled Adolescent Picture Books
This Book Was Created to Highlight Issues Affecting Teens
Trend Themes
1. Youth Awareness Books - Creating illustrated books that visually demonstrate positive and negative behaviors that opposing demographics exhibit to further enlarge a subset of the population.
2. Adolescent Trauma Representation - Producing various media forms, such as books and movies, that exhibit traumatic life experiences and impact individuals from a young age to further promote mental health awareness.
3. Youth Empowerment Content - Using creative media to communicate relevant issues that the youth demographic faces, while giving necessary solutions to present a way forward to the next generation.
Industry Implications
1. Publishing - Potential to create an emerging market in publications for adolescent mental health, ultimately resulting in books and articles having significant socio-economic and psycho-educational benefits for young people.
2. Mental Health Services - Developing alternative and innovative methods to engage young people in psychotherapeutic dialogue using methods such as books and other forms of media to explore impactful issues.
3. Marketing - Increased responsibility for agencies to raise awareness of hidden struggles in society while marketing messaging and brands in a subtle and non-threatening manner.