A sensitive, gentle book that helps reinforce to our little boys that they never have to suppress their empathetic, kind selves to fit the society's stereotype of what it means to be a Boy.

For some context, I am a parent to 4 year old boy-girl twins. And it is a constant learning curve for me to be aware and make sure that I don't set separate standards of behaviour and emotional response for them based on their gender. When You're A Boy stepped into our bed time like a gentle breeze. The text on the page is smooth flowing and structure. First it mentions an expectation that society has of you when you are boy. This is followed by a positive reinforcement that feeling & expressing certain emotions and feelings make you human, and are unconnected to whether you are a boy or a girl. What I particularly liked was that you don't have to change text if you are reading it to a girl. His sister read this with us and I didn't have to adapt/modify my words with her. Summarising, we quite enjoyed reading this book for bedtime!

Themes/Vibe: hopeful, poetic, muted, inspiring lighthearted, sweet, reflective, slow-paced

Star Rating: 3.0/5.0

This book was just okay for me. I liked the message overall - that boys don’t have to be what society tends to demand (the hard exterior and no emotional softness), but it lacks real depth for me.

The color palette is nice and painting style is pretty, but I felt there could have been so much more in this book. More context, more detail, more heart in it all. It just fell a bit flat for me. It’s still a good book and is still needed to help children learn to be themselves despite our societal influences, but it will not be one that I will be purchasing for my therapy office to read with my clients.

Thank you NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for allowing me to read and review this eARC!

I received an electronic ARC from North Star Editions through NetGalley.
I loved the premise but some of the analogies will not work for this age level. The artwork is stunning and detailed enough to hold readers' attention. Nuto offers a look at how many ways boys can see the world and interact with it. We see the typical options balanced against quieter views. I appreciate honoring all that boys can be - noisy, quiet, bold, curious, jumping to action, reflecting on life.

I enjoyed this book, but did find the metaphors used maybe a little beyond what younger kids will understand. Definitely a good book to unpack and discuss with older kiddos, but more concrete examples of what is expected of boys might be useful as well. Also, it might just be an issues with the digital copy, but the text is occasionally almost impossible to read on the backgrounds (grey on grey). I missed part of the text my first time through because it was so hard to see.

This is a beautiful depiction of the differences between society's expectations of what it means to be a boy and how we can build our boys up to go beyond that expectation. I love that the comparisons are done using the imagery of nature and show a nurturing relationship in the process. The art is filled with movement and emotion, and the color palette is soothing. I think this is a great read to share with your kiddos to reinforce the messaging of this different perspective on what it means to be a boy.

A very suitable look at male stereotypes – the boy here has been told men should be sturdy, clashy smashy things, but he is more about silence, patience, loving, and so much more. Very decent nature artwork brings this all to vivid life, and the text is almost poetic in what is supposed to be the right way for males, and what the better way clearly is. I don't think it's a five star book – it doesn't bear much re-readability – but anyone who wishes to contradict it or demean it should give their head a wobble. Hence a strong four stars.

This was a sweet and heartwarming children's book. It was exactly what I was hoping to find. I'm always on the lookout for stories that gently guide my son away from the pressures of toxic masculinity, and this book delivered that message beautifully. With its thoughtful narrative and positive undertones, it encourages both emotional awareness and kindness.

3.5🌟

Name of the publication/blog/outlet where your review will be published/posted: Goodreads, The Storygraph
Run date for when the review will be posted/published: As of April 18, 2025
A link to your reviews:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7442737097
https://app.thestorygraph.com/reviews/2093ab52-d827-4bdb-bd1a-8528b0481c2b

Review: 📚 Ages: 5–9

When You’re a Boy is a gentle, poetic invitation for boys to see themselves as more than just the usual “tough guy” stereotypes. I really appreciated that it doesn’t try to throw out masculinity altogether—it acknowledges it. Yes, boys are often taught to be like “the roaring ocean,” but this book reminds them that they can also be like flowers (fierce ones), or like the quiet strength found in kindness, empathy, and creativity. It’s not saying “don’t be a boy,” it’s saying “there are so many ways to be a boy.”

The artwork is lovely, soft, and dreamlike—matching the tone of the text perfectly. It has that kind of calming, cozy bedtime feel.

That said, the book leans really heavily into poetic language, and sometimes that gets in the way of the analogies it’s trying to make. I imagine younger readers might miss some of the meaning unless it’s unpacked with an adult.

Still, I love the heart behind it. This book is a beautiful, important reminder that boys don’t have to squeeze themselves into a narrow box. There’s room for softness, creativity, and connection too—and that doesn’t make them any less strong.

Thank you to NetGalley, North Star Editions | Jolly Fish Press, and Blake Nuto for this free, advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

I did not care for this book. I understand the author was trying to get at gender norms of "being a boy", but the analogies used are not ones that I have heard referenced to "being a boy". For example, lightening, rivers, etc. The graphics were not eye catching for the suggested age range of 4-8. The book is very creative, but it missed the mark for me. Thank you to NetGalley and North Star Editions for the advanced reader copy.

This is such an amazingly beautiful book. The illustrations are gorgeous. the words, meaningful. It's just everything a parent needs to read to their kids, boys and girls. It's really needed. It's so sweet and wonderful.

What a beautiful and important book! An exploration of what it means to be a boy in today's world. No gender norms and toxic masculinity here! This book encourages boys to look past what society has traditionally taught and explore their "softer" side. The message is fabulous, the verse poetic, and the illustrations... oh my!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

When You're a Boy had such a beautiful, poetic message and stunning illustrations of a boy in nature. As a boy mom, I loved the message that boys can embrace a broader range of emotions & expressions. We can teach our boys to be kind, patient, & content!

I received this via Netgalley in exchange for a review.

Aww, this was cute. I love how the expectations society put on boys is contrasted with the reality the narrator cherishes. I wish more boys would be encouraged to explore their emotions rather than bury it deep inside.

As a boy mom, I believe this book is beautiful, and every father out there will agree. It emphasizes the meaning of love and care for a boy and that no matter what, it is GOOD to have feelings and express those feelings. Even when society has taught us that "boys do not cry," boys are also human and have the right to express their beautiful feelings and hear others apologize when needed.

4 stars

When You’re a Boy is a beautifully written and illustrated book that reimagines boyhood through themes of gentleness, nature, and emotional expression. It offers a powerful alternative to the common messages boys receive about needing to be tough, stoic, or aggressive.

The poetic language and advanced vocabulary may be difficult for younger children to fully understand on their own, as the symbolism isn’t explicitly explained. Because of that, I see it working best as a shared read or with older readers. As a mental health professional, I look forward to using this book in sessions with teens and young adults to spark meaningful conversations about identity, emotion, and self-worth.

I was given the opportunity to read the ARC version of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I guess I was expecting more here. The art is ok/good, though some of it doesn't look realistic, like someone went out of their way to be abstract. I think that instead of countering what the boy learns, it should be adding to it. For example, add "I have also learned..." and go with that. The one picture of the child crossing the log a distance away from the adult, while walking over a rushing river, sent warning flags (child endangerment and all that). Most of the art was good, a nice soft touch throughout. However, I think the book can be worked over again to present a better message.

How do you act and respond to the good and the bad when you are a boy? Blake Nuto provides direction for this question in "When You're a Boy." Nuto acknowledges how boys the stereotypical expectations for behavior, then provides alternative ways to look at life. The artwork is colorful and interesting, and the story is a quick, easy read. It's perfect for parents rearing a boy in the modern world.

This was a simple story about a boy taking charge of his emotions. Not going with the older generations of boys don't cry motto. I loved the illustrations in this book. But I did feel the story lacked in some areas. I wasn't a fan of the book always saying "When you're a boy you're told how to be like....". I have 2 boys and I want to guide them but also allow them to make up their own minds.

I loved the illustrations showing a parent and child, probably father and son but doesn't have to be, exploring nature and enjoying time together. The text, however, felt like a spoken word poem delivered by a grad student asked to ponder the issue of masculinity. The metaphors and word choice would make the text inaccessible to any children likely to pick up this picture book or have it read to them at story time. Yes it is great to talk to our children about being themselves instead of feeling boxed into strict gender roles, but using language far above their ability is unlikely to make an impact on concrete thinkers.

2.5/5
The story has good intentions for its audience but I do not fit anywhere in that audience personally.
I am an elementary school librarian that reads many books and recommends more that I could ever read but I don't know that I would have a student I could even recommend this to.
The reading level is challenging, with few words throughout the story, they are a bit complex for the younger ones but with it being so short it wouldn't appeal to the older students still reading picture books.
It is great for boys who are struggling with gender expectations if that is what you're looking for.