Rhythm has beautiful illustrations, tracing the pathway of a story and neighborhood over the course of the year. However, this book relies too much on illustrations telling the story as the text is difficult to untangle. Is this a story about seasons? Is this a story about hardship in the family? There were many plot threads that were difficult for me to follow. When I read it to someone else, they thought I might have skipped pages. Unfortunately, though the theme is strong and the illustrations beautiful, I'll pass on this one for the library.

I read this book because I'm a teacher and wanted to see if it would be good for my classroom. It was called rhythm, and I primarily teach music to elementary ages, and love having a good book in my classroom about rhythm. Unfortunately, this book was not about the music type of rhythm, but I still read to see what it is about.

The story follow a young child whose family is down on their luck. They become friends with a tree and you see the seasons pass through the childs interactions with this tree (you can see the changing of the leaves for each season).

Unfortunately, I don't think this book will hit right for the target age range. From the way it was written (small paragraphs) it seemed like the age range would be great for age 5-7. However, it's got really flowery writing and nothing is said straight up (for instance, the father loses his job, but it's never discussed, you just see the family eating at the soup kitchen, which I don't think children will understand from this book). I think children will not be able to parse what the story is about because its too abstract, and the writing is too complex for a young age range, meaning they will lose focus.

I also think the use of the word "rhythm" was completely unecessary. Each season said something like "the rhythm of spring brought" or "the rhythm of winter brought" and the sentence could have worked exactly the same without the word rhythm. To me it just seemed like the author needed something to call this book and inserted the word rhythm everywhere, without it being necessary.

I did like the artwork; it was bright and colorful, and cosy despite the subject matter being a bit sad (although the bright colors again detracted from the fact that the main character is going through a hard time).

3/5 stars because I just don't think it would be comprehended by the target age range, and I think young kids would lose focus while listening to this story. (Based on personal experience as a k-5 teacher)

Thank you so much to netgalley and the publisher for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review

I received an arc of this title from NetGalley for an honest review. A little girl who's father has lost his job, watches as the seasons go by and things get easier.

I received this book for free. This does not impact my review in any shape or form.

Rhythm, by Jackie Azua Kramer and illustrated by Taia Morley, is a children’s picture book about communal resilience in the face of economic hardships. At the beginning of the book, both Kramer and Morley paint a harsh reality of what a family can go through in the wake of financial difficulty. From “closed for business” signs to “for sale”, it can certainly be hard to find anything to be grateful for. However, one little girl does, whether it be spending time with her favorite tree, playing with a stray dog, or curling up to the warmth of her family.

I found the piggy bank tree fund adorable. It made me think of when I was little, back when I used to hide firecrackers in a lunch box and then stuff it in the roots of the evergreens outback. Don’t ask.

But more than that, this is another book I absolutely adored, more so because it hits home. I’ve always told my mother-in-law and my father that the more counselors and doctors and helping professions in a town, the sicker that town is. If there weren’t any people who needed help, then we wouldn’t have half as nearly many social service organizations that we do now. I’ve met with mothers and fathers who don’t even know where they’re going to sleep at night, much less try worry about their children’s health and safety. Even so, many of us in the community pull together and try to take care of one another. Similar to how our beloved character interacts with the environment, we need to remind ourselves that the efforts we pour into vulnerable people pay off. That even if it seems hopeless, there’s always light at the end of the tunnel.

This book beautifully illustrates the need for flexibility; as the tree in the book changes with the seasons, we also need to be adept enough to know when to pivot. We don’t focus on hardships or the things that get us down; true, it’s okay to feel sad or angry whenever things don’t go our way, but we pick ourselves up and we keep going.

As such, I would give this book a five out of five stars.

My favorite picture books are those that have subtle whispers of themes and indirect opportunities to latch onto a topic or theme. Rhythm is a perfect example of this type of book. The story follows a little girl through seasons with beautiful descriptions of a tree’s life and parallels to the girl’s coping with life. There is mention in the very beginning of a hope for Dad to find a job and a couple of illustrations that nod towards financial stress but the text focuses on seasonal changes and growth. It is not a scripted bridge but a personalized processing intervention. Additionally, the limited scripting about economic stressors allows even young readers to process in a manner that matches their developmental level. Rhythm is one to add to your shelf!

I absolutely love this book! The colorful illustrations and topic of hard seasons written in an age appropriate and approachable way. It’s relevant to today’s children’s struggles and I purchased a copy for my own shelf after reading the ARC through netgalley.

Rhythm is a lovely conversation starter about living life when a parent loses a job, or a family is experiencing low income. "The hard winter finally melts into spring" is the quote on the back of the book, and an accurate description of how this is a story of a young girl's experience through the seasons with her close friend, an old tree. Brief spreads or hints are shared indicating the tough times the family is experiencing financially, while never addressing it directly.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book provided by the publisher, American Psychological Association, via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This book was a powerful story filled with beautiful art that matched. The author beautifully highlighted how there is beauty even during difficult times. This is a story I will share with my own students as the message in this story is one of community, strength and change. Jackie Azua Kumar did a wonderful job and I know "Rhythm" will be loved.

Vibrant colors bring this story of a girl and her tree to life. Through the rhythm of the seasons, through lean times and growing better times, a girl and her tree get through the days. The tree provides for the world around it and the girl appreciates the tree and all the gifts it gives her.

A young girl with her family enjoys the rhythms of the seasons. With kindness, wonder, and love.

Each season had its special rhythm in seeing joy and experiencing peace.

A special thank you to Magination Press and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review

Time passes, seasons change, the tree is steadfast and weathers storms, and things do get better. This is a lovely, simple, happy ending book. A stress reducer.
The illustrations by Taia Morley are delightful, imaginative, and vividly colorful.
Well suited for reading WITH someone of any age including ESL, and great for gifting to anyone, but especially to a school or your local public library!
I requested and received a free temporary e-book on Adobe Digital Editions from American Psychological Association/Magination Press via NetGalley. Thank you!

This book is unique. It takes place over a year and a half in which a father is out of work. That is in the background of the entire story but the main little girl is not crying or yelling or worried. We see through the eyes of a child how they cope with a parent not finding work. This book focuses on the tree this girl has befriended and how she sees it change through the seasons and what she does to make everyone happy and relaxed. This book is more than just one thing. It’s a simple but contemplative story. It’s one of those stories that normalizes things like a parent out of work. It’s very well done and very heartwarming.

Rhythm will move you. This was an absolutely wonderful and moving story. I am in love with this one. Wonderful illustrations add to the movement of the story and all it holds. As the story follows a little girl as all the seasons go by in a town with unemployment and sadness. The little girl sees what blessings each season can bring even in hard times. Through it all a special tree that shows her gifts and is with her through all of the seasons, like shade in the summer and the beautiful colors of the fall. Each season had its own amazing gifts to be thankful for.
This story will move you in so many ways. It has a feeling of calm and shows us all to search for the blessings and gifts each season can bring as well as the world around us, even in hard times.
I can’t wait to share this story. I received it as an ARC but this book will be going in our personal library. It is also perfect to share in an early childhood classroom as in elementary school classrooms. Enjoy this adventure.

Adore. Absolutely adored this gem. What a treasure. From the beautiful illustrations to the characters, that little dog I want him, to the story. It is all so precious, colorful, and splendid.

An unnamed little girl and her cute little dog begin to tell a story of her family of her father being laid off from work because of the economy. This can be very helpful for it can be scary for children when their parent losing a job also creates an anxiousness for them about stability. So the book starts with this premise but it is so much more. It's comforting as the little girl finds such joy in the tree next to her house and nature. Things money can't buy and she appreciates, observes, and is present with the rhythms of nature which also metaphorically tells us that through the seasons things can be tough but that there is also a way of things working out. Her friend the tree teaches her hope. The book ends with the town coming back to life, hiring again and that yes we can not lose hope for even in times of great worry there is hope for a better future.

Another great book made for children to reassure them during difficult times in their lives things can get better.

I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher Magination Press for the opportunity to read and review Rhythm by Jackie Azua Kramer.

The connection between the seasons and changes in our lives is easily accessible to young children and the illustrations are compelling.

Rhythm is a beautifully illustrated story of the passing of seasons. As trees and nature go through seasons of nature, we (humans) also go through seasons of life. The little girl realizes from her perch among the branches of the tree that there is hope to be seen, even when we don't yet have the perspective to see it. Sometimes it's enough to know that it's there!

Thanks Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to review this advanced review copy (ARC) in exchange for my honest review on the book!

This had pretty illustrations and a nice message about life and hope, but it was forgetful. Could be nice for a story time or group project about yearly changes.

Rhythm is a beautifully illustrated story that provides a soft introduction to the seasons. Unlike alot of other pictures books revolving seasons, Ryhtm goes a bit further than just providing facts of each season. The story itself shows how one girl's day to day activities are changed from each season. There was also the subtle inclusion of her family's struggles which can spark conversations with children.

A lovely book with delightful illustrations filled with joy and hope and teaching a love for our world, nature and all it has to offer.

This is a beautiful story. I love how connected the little girl is to the natural rhythms of the Earth and, more specifically, her friend the tree.

The writing felt a little disjointed to me, particularly in the beginning. However, the message interwoven with the illustrations make this a wonderful book for young readers.

There's so much hope when we measure time by the life stages of a friendly tree.