Aidan and His Shadow

By Jonathan Hempstead

A lonely boy. A playful shadow. A gentle story about the light we carry inside.
Aidan plays alone most days. His blocks, his books, and the soft grass under his feet are all familiar friends. Yet something is missing. One golden afternoon, the sunlight stretches across a stone, and Aidan sees it for the first time: a shadow that dances when he dances and bows when he bows.

Soon Aidan and his shadow are racing, twirling, and laughing beneath the tree. But as the sun begins to sink and the sky turns tangerine, the shadow grows thin and slowly disappears. Was it real, or just a trick of the light? In the quiet of evening, Aidan hears a whisper in the dark, a promise that true friendship lives in the heart and that the light inside him never really goes away.

Aidan and His Shadow is a lyrical, comforting picture book told in soothing rhyme. It gently reassures children that even when things change or goodbyes feel hard, love and friendship can still be felt inside. Glowing scenes of sunlight, moonlight, and dancing shadows invite young readers to see everyday moments as full of quiet magic.

This heartwarming story helps children: Feel less alone by seeing themselves in Aidan's gentle, thoughtful worldTalk about big feelings like loneliness, worry, and hopeUnderstand that friends and loved ones can feel close even when they are not right next to usSee light, shadow, and bedtime as peaceful instead of scaryRelax at the end of the day with calm, musical language made for reading aloud

Perfect for: Bedtime stories and snuggly read-aloudsHelping kids who feel shy, lonely, or unsure about the darkPreschool, kindergarten, and early elementary classroomsParents, grandparents, teachers, and counselors who love social-emotional learning booksGifts for birthdays, holidays, or a "just because" surpriseIdeal for children ages 3 to 7, Aidan and His Shadow is a tender reminder that friendship can be found in the sunlight, in the moonlight, and in the quiet places of our own hearts. Families will return to this gentle, rhyming story again and again.

If you are looking for a soft, reassuring picture book about friendship, feelings, and light in the dark, Aidan's story is the perfect book to add to your child's shelf.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B0G24MK72J
• ISBN13: 9798274245319
• Release Date: November 2025
• Publisher: Independently Published
• Length: 26 Pages
• Weight: 0.19 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.1" x 8.5" x 8.5"