Themes
Sparkle Valley is filled with adventure, but it's also about the important things.
Kindness
Kindness can be underrated. Especially when it's unexpected. That's the type of thing that catches you by surprise. It reminds us of the goodness in others and inspires us to be good ourselves. Abigail faces her challenges with courage, but it's kindness, like the unexpected kindness that she shows Ivana in Book 1, that makes the biggest impact.
Explore → Sparkle Valley & Kindness
Friendship
Support from friends is so important. Abigail, Gloria, and Reggie accept each other as they are, quirks and all. And when someone makes a mistake, they forgive each other and move forward. But most importantly, they have fun together, going on adventures and sharing their love for Sparkle Valley.
Explore → Abigail
The Blue Flower
The Blue Flower stands for passion and dreaming and it's a guiding light that shines throughout the series. Abigail symbolizes the Blue Flower and inspires Emily to find her own special inner spark as she grows up. It's Abigail's love for Emily that helps to guide her choices and helps her stay true to herself even when she's faced with the biggest challenges.
Explore → The Blue Flower
Thin Places
Thin places are special spots where the barrier between our world and the invisible world is thin. For Emily, the Magic Garden is her thin place, a doorway to her imagination and Sparkle Valley. But it's more than just a fun escape, it's a place of transformation, a place where Emily faces the challenges of growing up and can explore who she really is. The big challenge is to not let these thin places thicken.
Explore → Thin Places
Home
Home is an important theme in the series. It symbolizes comfort and refuge for Emily. Through Abigail and her toys she creates her own world which feels like home. But as Emily gets older she starts to outgrow this world and goes on an adventure into the unknown. Upon her return, she finds the home of her childhood looks different. She has grown up.
Explore → Searching for the Blue Flower
Identity
Discovering who you really are can be tricky. It can be confusing not knowing where you belong. Abigail experiences this in Book 1 and it turns her world upside down. Her feelings are a lot like what Emily is going through as she grows up. But by Book 3, Abigail's journey comes to an end, and she's changed forever as Emily grows up.
Explore → Abigail’s Impossible Choice
Looking for the deeper ideas behind Sparkle Valley?
Visit the Philosophy page.