20 March 2026
More Than a Picture Book: Danny and the Power to Choose
Some books are more than just a story.
They open conversations.
They make abstract themes tangible.
They give language to something children already feel, but cannot yet name.
What Should Danny Do? On Vacation is such a book. Or rather: such a series.
This interactive picture book series for children roughly aged 4 to 10 starts from one simple yet powerful premise: the reader decides what happens. In each story, Danny makes choices — and the child decides along with him. Depending on that choice, the story unfolds differently. One book contains multiple storylines. You are free to flip back and choose again.
That turns reading into an experience.
What Should Danny Do? is an interactive children’s book series (ages 4–10) in which children use their “power to choose” to decide how the story unfolds. With multiple storylines, reading becomes a space to practice decision-making and taking responsibility.
For gifted children, who often think ahead and weigh moral considerations carefully, the book makes choices playful and safe. It shows that multiple paths are possible and that one decision does not determine everything.
The series is more than a picture book: it opens conversations about autonomy, responsibility, and doubt. At home, in the classroom, or in coaching, it can serve as an accessible conversation starter without moralizing.
Danny is a superhero. Not a classic hero with spectacular powers, but an ordinary boy with an ability every child carries within: the power to choose. In the story, the child gets to decide what Danny does at each turning point. That choice determines how the story unfolds. With nine possible storylines, one book becomes a true practice ground for decision-making.
And that is precisely where its strength lies.
Why Choosing Is Such a Big Exercise
For many children, choosing seems simple. But for gifted children, it is often less straightforward than it appears.
They see multiple scenarios.
They think ahead.
They weigh moral consequences.
They want to do the “right” thing.
In a coaching conversation, you might hear sentences like:
“But what if I choose wrong?”
“What if someone is disappointed?”
“What if it goes wrong?”
Choices carry weight.
In What Should Danny Do?, choosing becomes playful. One decision leads to a different adventure. No moral judgment, no punishment. Just another path. When you reread the story and consciously make a different choice, you discover that alternatives are possible — that one decision does not determine everything.
That is an important experience.
Autonomy as a Foundation for Motivation
Within self-determination theory, we know that autonomy is a fundamental psychological need (Ryan & Deci, 2017). Children flourish when they experience that they have influence over their environment. Not unlimited control, but meaningful influence.
With cognitively strong children, we often see that autonomy and responsibility are closely intertwined. They take things seriously. They think big. But sometimes, they also take too much onto their shoulders.
In practice, I often use this book as a conversation starter. Not to “analyze the story,” but to slow down together.
Why did you choose this?
What were you hoping would happen?
Would you do the same in real life?
What felt exciting or difficult about this decision?
Sometimes we read an entire storyline. Sometimes we stop halfway. Sometimes we reread a part and deliberately choose differently. Afterwards, we draw what happened or create a new scenario.
In this way, the book becomes more than a reading moment — it becomes a moment of reflection.
More Than a Picture Book
What sets this book apart from a classic read-aloud story is its layered nature. Younger children experience it as an adventure. Older children begin to notice the underlying themes: responsibility, social expectations, dealing with tension, making choices under pressure.
It can also be valuable in educational settings. For example, in an enrichment group or a classroom discussion about responsibility. What does choosing actually mean? When do you choose for yourself? When for the group? How do you handle doubt?
For children who tend to think in black-and-white terms or struggle with perfectionism, it can be helpful to experience that different choices are legitimate — that “different” does not automatically mean “wrong.”
Not a Solution, But an Entry Point
This book does not replace guidance. It is not an intervention program. But it can be an entry point.
A safe context in which to practice.
A way to make autonomy discussable.
A playful way to explore responsibility.
And sometimes that is exactly what is needed to open a conversation that might otherwise be difficult to start.
For parents who want to support their child in learning how to deal with choices — without moralizing — What Should Danny Do? – On Holiday can be a valuable addition.
Not because it provides all the answers.
But because it dares to ask the questions.
For what age group is the What Should Danny Do? book series intended?
The series is designed for children roughly aged 4 to 10. Younger children mainly experience it as an adventurous story in which they get to choose, while older children often pick up on the underlying themes, such as responsibility, social pressure, and dealing with doubt.
Why is this book particularly interesting for gifted children?
Gifted children often think ahead, consider multiple scenarios, and want to do the “right” thing. As a result, choices can feel heavy. This book makes choosing playful and safe: a decision simply leads to a different storyline, without judgment. By rereading and choosing differently, children discover that alternatives are possible and that one choice does not determine everything.
How can I use this book at home or in counseling?
You can use it as a conversation starter. Read a storyline together, pause at a decision point, and ask why your child chooses that option. You can also reread the same part and deliberately choose differently, then discuss what changes. In this way, it becomes more than reading — it becomes reflecting, imagining, and giving language together to what is happening inside the child.
References
- Levy, G., & Levy, A. (2020). What should Danny do? On vacation! (The power to choose) (M. Sadler, Illus.). Adir & Ganit Levy.
- Ryan, R. M., & Deci, E. L. (2017). Self-Determination Theory. The Guilford Press.
Copyright © 2026 Nick Brackeva – All rights reserved. No part of this article may be reproduced in any form or by any means, whether electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without prior written permission from the author. Sharing online is permitted provided the author is credited and a link to this article is included.
