High School Junior Creates Children’s Book to Spark Mental Health Conversations
At first glance, Keep Your Light Bright may look like just another charming children’s book with bright illustrations and a cheerful underwater world. But for Georgetown High School junior Mary Rose Shoales, the story of Sunny the Anglerfish is much more—it’s a heartfelt tool to open up an important dialogue about mental health with young children.
As part of a Capstone project at Georgetown High School, Mary Rose wrote and illustrated the picture book, hoping to give kids a safe and relatable way to explore their feelings. The book follows Sunny, a vibrant anglerfish who learns that it's okay to feel sad, anxious, or overwhelmed—and that it's even braver to talk about it.
“I wanted to create something that younger kids could understand and connect with,” Mary Rose said. And the project took off!
The idea for the project was inspired by Mary Rose’s own experience and reflects information she wishes she had access to in elementary school.
“Inspiration for the project stems from the loss of my sister in elementary school,” Shoals said. “ It was unlike anything I had ever seen other people experience and took a huge toll on my mental health at a young age. Seeing my family struggle as well as learning to cope with my emotions was a huge learning curve. No one my age felt what I was, so I felt so isolated.”
The result is a beautifully illustrated, emotionally resonant story that’s already capturing attention. Mary Rose and her peers from the Superintendent's Student Advisory Council are on tour, sharing the story with 3rd graders throughout the district, reading aloud in classrooms and leading gentle discussions about emotions, friendship, and having a trusted adult to go to for help.
“I'm really proud of Mary Rose. Like many students I have met, she is a remarkable young adult and is using her energy to improve the lives of others,” said Superintendent Devin Padavil. “Supporting the mental well-being of students was a project the Student Advisory Council took on this year and Mary Rose's team did a remarkable job.”
Beyond the classroom, there are plans to make the book available in all GISD elementary school libraries.
“I hope kids see that their feelings matter. It's ok to talk about feelings and advocate for yourself,” Mary Rose said. “If Sunny can get through tough days, they can too.”
As the Capstone project wraps up, the impact of Sunny the Anglerfish is just beginning—proof that sometimes the most powerful stories come from the hearts of students who dare to make a difference.
