Think of a monster.
Why is it a monster?

In mythology, monsters are often depicted as demonic creatures or hideous humans with dark skin, large teeth, and grotesque, oversized bodies. They are designed to be terrifying to behold. But why are monsters portrayed with dark skin? Does this portrayal reinforce stereotypes?

This raises a concerning question: do we inadvertently associate these characteristics with something undesirable and repulsive? It's even more troubling when we consider that we condition children from a young age to see monsters this way.

The monsters we imagine may actually be reflections of deep-seated conditioning about how we perceive bodies and harbor hidden prejudices. With this project, I took a step back to examine how our concept of monsters is derived from what we already know.

Through this process, I learned to reconsider the systems we have grown up in since childhood. The target audience for this project is children aged 3-10, who are at a critical stage of development, their innocent minds not yet fully shaped by societal norms and biased conditioning. I aspire for this book to serve as a tool to help children cultivate open minds and expansive imaginations, enabling them to challenge stereotypes they will inevitably encounter. It should lay the groundwork for children to think with kindness, view individuals with equality, and encourage them to question what they learn automatically.