This was absolutely adorable and should 100% be on school library shelves. We need more stories about black tween kids and every day life. There wasn't a ton of things that happened in this book, but the struggles that Ryan goes through in this story are so relatable to kids. Her parents are struggling with finances, and even though Ryan is a kid, she understands the struggles. She knows why her mom is grabbing cereal from the bottom shelf, and using coupons.

The book moves really fast, and pretty much follows an entire semester for Ryan.

OMG I love this book and this series. The world needed Renee Watson to give us a realistic Black tween girl with real issues and life. i am so glad that this is part of a series.

This is such a sweet book for young readers 3rd-5th grade. I have had students who have loved it. I enjoyed listening to the audio today and hearing Ryan’s story. She is a 4th grader who is figuring out her friendships, her community, and life changes between a new home and a change of job for her father.

“Here’s the thing about ice cream. No matter how sweet it is, no matter if it’s given to you or Gen. when you aren’t supposed to have it, no matter if you’re told you can come back for seconds. It doesn’t take away the sadness.” Ch 2

I love Renee Watson’s younger middle grade and feel like her books do such a wonderful job filling the gap between chapter books and middle grade for readers who need them. This book had so much wonderful humor and heart.

I adored this middle grade novel, and the kids at the library seem to like it as well. I've come to find anything by Renee Watson should be an auto buy.

4.5 Stars

"Ways to Make Sunshine" is a really sweet and hopeful story for young readers! It’s a book that nicely bridges the gap between chapter books and middle grade books. To be clear: I don’t say that as an indication of its quality, just to give a better idea of the intended audience.

Overall, this is just a really fun, slice-of-life type story where you’re witnessing the family dynamic in Ryan’s household, you see her mistakes and triumphs, and the everyday adventures she has with her family and friends. I think it’s very much a story about facing things that are difficult or scary head-on and finding a way to reframe it as something new. There's also a great thread about discovering what is special about yourself and figuring out how you can share that with other folks.

Most importantly, I think this story is about how change is part of life, and that change doesn’t have to mean the *end* of life as you know it, but rather it can be an opportunity to experience something new. And as long as you have love, there’s nothing you can’t face. This was a really cute, sweet, and heartfelt book with incredible illustrations to go along with each chapter.

My one “note,” if it can be called that, is that the book reads more as a series of vignettes rather than one cohesive, overarching story arc. But don’t think the intended audience will care one lick about that, and I still think it works and I enjoyed it so much!

The name Ryan means "little king". This means that Ryan is meant to be a leader and she shows this throughout the book. She loves to spend time with her friends and cook but she also has a lot of issues to deal with. Her dad worked as a mailman but was let go when his post office closed. He has a new job, but money is tight. They have to move to a new house, sell their second car, and start shopping with coupons. Despite this Ryan is a girl who knows how to turn things around. I love how positive she is and what a big heart she has. Her brother says it best when he tells her that she has talent, it's just not talent that can be shown on a stage. She is caring and thoughtful. She puts others first and works hard to make sure that everyone is included. She definitely lives up to her name!

Ways to Make Sunshine by Renee Watson is a wonderful read! Ryan believes in seeing sunshine in everyday things. Life has been a little tough for her and her family. They recently had to move to a new (old) house, they had to get rid of the families 2nd car, and money is a little tight. So Ryan always tries to find the sunshine in every day. That's not always easy for her, it seems her parents don't always understand, her brother get on her nerves and things aren't always happy, but Ryan can find sunshine everyday! Read Ways To Make Sunshine and see for yourself!
Happy Reading!

This book was super cute, but too young for my students. I would highly suggest this for grades 3-5.

“She’s got talent that matters the most: she’s nice, not mean. She has spirit, kindness, and sunshine.” Ryan Hart’s family is going through a lot of changes, but she remains optimistic. I am glad this book is going to be a series, my students will enjoy getting to know Ryan as she navigates through life’s ups and downs.

Renee Watson is a personal favourite author of mine and students love her books, too. This is books is one more reason why. When the budget refills this is on the buy list.

Ryan Hart is just the positive ray of sunshine we all need in our lives. She sees the best in every situation. Things get a little stressful when her brother becomes annoying. A great family story that many children will relate to.

Will be using this over the summer in a course I'm teaching at Simmons University in their Master of Children's Literature degree program. Thank you for sharing!

I love Renee Watson’s voice as an author for young girls. Ryan, the main character is a wonderful example for middle grade girls of how to cope with change. Navigating friendships at 10 years old can be tricky and Ryan embodies true leadership in Ways to make Sunshine.

I am thankful for the opportunity to read this as an ARC and add it to my school library for grades 3-5. We need more strong female protagonists modeling good decisions in everyday situations!

Great slice of life story with situations that are easy for kids to relate to like moving to a new home and making new friends, as well as more complex and challenging issues that are likely a reality for many many families right now such as income insecurity, but in a way that younger elementary students could understand and process. I loved Ryan's relationship with her family and the way she shows her love for them through food. This is an excellent early chapter book with great pacing and awesome BIPOC characters, and and I hope to see more installments about the Hart family.

This was such an adorable book! Ryan Hart is the black Ramona Quimby I needed when I was in middle school, for sure. She's sweet, resilient, and so very relatable. For example, reading the Easter chapter reminded me of my own childhood, where I spent weeks memorizing a speech to nervously recite before the church congregation. I'm grateful for Watson and how she gives words to experiences many black children share. Can't wait to share this series with all the children in my life.

I had the honor of interviewing Renée Watson on WAYS TO MAKE SUNSHINE for the first season of my podcast. WAYS TO MAKE SUNSHINE is a remarkable book for young readers. It offers children the importance of empathy on a level that is approachable, appropriate and touching. Ryan Hart and her family navigate family and life changes together, and married with the wonderful illustrations throughout the book, it's a book I would recommend for all bedtime story lovers.

Ways to Make Sunshine is a darling little book that elementary readers will enjoy. Ryan is a relatable character, and I loved watching her grow into her name--I know my students will, too.

This book is a needed addition to elementary library shelves where simple, joyful realistic fiction is sometimes lacking. It is a story full of heart and family, of learning to accept change with grace, and learning to embrace who you are. I have already purchased it for both my elementary libraries, and it is receiving good feedback from the students.

Oh, my stars! Ways to Make Sunshine is an adorable book starring Ryan Hart. Ryan’s name means “king”, and her parents remind her every morning to be who they named her to be, a leader who does the right thing. Here are some reasons I like this book:

Ryan is an African-American girl in 4th grade. My library needs more books about African-American girls and about 4th graders. Seems there are a lot of books about 6th and 2nd graders, not so many about 4th graders.

Sometimes she succeeds. Sometimes she doesn’t. She can be nice, and she’s good at helping people. But she can also be petty, like when she makes her brother’s chicken wings extra spicy because he made her mad.

She loves to cook. I like characters who have a passion.

Her parents are really good parents. Although things are tough financially right now, they press on together to do what is right for their kids.

Ryan is learning to deal with people who are different from her. For instance, there is a girl named Red. Red has white girl hair and doesn’t understand that Ryan isn’t afraid to swim, she’s afraid of what her mom will do if she gets her hair wet. Ryan knows if she jumps in the pool, her nice, straight hair that her grandma spent a lot of time pressing will poof up instantly. Red hounds Ryan into a breath-holding contest. Too late, Ryan realizes she didn’t need to prove anything to Red. She messed up her hair, and worse, she was showing off. That is not who her parents raised her to be.

At the end, Ryan learns that she is braver than she thought she was because she stepped in to help a friend.

This was a short read at around 170 pages. It looks like this is the first book in a planned series. I know my students will love it.