With 2 little nephews starting to grow into toddlers, I thought this book would be a great book for them. I liked the painting like illustrations, but the message was a miss. I didn't like the flow of the writing and didn't seem like it would keep the attention of a young reader.

Thank you to Netgalley, Blake Nuto, and Jolly Fish Press for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest feedback.

This is definitely a book to be read as a class or with a parent. Its theme appears to be the underlying theme of expectations of being male and the things they are expected to do and how to behaviour. It is a chance to explore that it is fine to be who you are and enjoy all that is around you, although society or others may not. This book would be for 7- 11 and would need an adults guidance while reading to address questions pupils or a child may have. The pictures are subtle and the images and colours can be talking points but a lovely book with an underlying theme which could be missed. A,book to provoke discussion on preferences, likes and dislikes.

When You’re A Boy is a children’s picture book that tackles the stereotypical characteristics that are often pushed onto young boys and men in order for them to feel ‘manly’, such as being strong, brave, cruel, brash, and loud to name a few. This book identifies these themes with links to nature and often turns them on their head by linking them to softer and calmer things like flowers, calm rivers, patience and warmth. I really liked how the book didn’t completely refute these characteristics or villainise them, but rather highlighted a different side of them. Such as brave or courageous doesn’t only come from rushing head first into danger, but it can also come from having patience and getting through something nerve racking at your own pace.

These examples are given alongside beautiful depictions of nature in a painterly style. The artworks are just as calming as the descriptions given and I truly adored looking at all of the flora and fauna included in the imagery.
A great read I’d recommend for young readers and classrooms!

As a boy mommy, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on this book. I thought I was going to get more from it than I did. I know where it was trying to go, it just didn’t do it for me. The comparison didn’t do anything big for me, although the illustration was beautiful and I understood the message you were trying to get across, I just think it could have been worded differently for children.

Thank you NetGalley & Blake for the opportunity to read this Arc!

I really liked this and had high hopes but I wanted the message to be a little more blunt. I also think due to the presumed audience being boys that girls may not connect to the book and the narrower focus makes it less classroom useful.

First and foremost, I really liked the concept behind this book. I think the title and the front cover image very nicely sum up what the story is about. I also thought page layout throughout the text was very effective in highlighting certain key sentences and enticing the reader to read on. This book uses "rule of 3" in a really interesting way and there is a lot that can be discussed in terms of vocabulary (from a teaching perspective, the use of compound words and repetition particularly stand out). These two elements create a nice flow to the reading and the illustrations are very well- chosen. I particularly like how one scenario is taken (for example, boys are expected to be as sure-standing as mountains) and then another interpretation of mountains is discussed on the following pages. This is an unusual book which could be enjoyed by children of all ages and there's a lot of scope for discussion around it too.

The only reason I didn't award 5 stars is that I felt as though this book could have had better pace at certain points. For example, the sections where it discusses "boys are expected to be" could have more detail and greater use of punctuation to bring a faster pace to them in contrast to the "but I have found" sections which are slower and more in depth.

This was a pretty good picture book about gender expectations and how these can be harmful or limit your potential. It goes slightly into the reflection of how many different things a boy can be and how to defy stereotypes, but I wish it went even deeper with its reflections. Some moments I felt like it was a missed opportunity not to go deeper.

Still a pretty good one tho, and would recommend it!

Cozy, very important message and nice illustrations. I like how it tackles masculinity and the poetic take on the message, but I do wonder about the target audience. Most kids between ages 4-8 (and even up to 12) are not really keen on poetry, and the metaphors may come off a little vague in the youngest age range targeted. For sure, I used to be one of those kids, but I do realize it's not the most usual. It may be best read-along with adults for children in the earliest stages.

I love the art in Nuto's When You're a Boy. I love the message of learning to be more than what society tells you to be. I do wonder if the 4-8 range is a little young to understand the lyrical words and the message they are trying to convey.

"When You're a Boy" is a book that talks about macho stereotypes and tells men to be more emotionally open. It challenges macho stereotypes and tells a story about accepting yourself. It also shows how vital emotional intelligence is for men. The book is great because it has a strong message, excellent language, and vibrant illustrations that clearly show how passionate the author is. Even though it mostly talks about men, it is quite general and open to everyone. Some younger readers could find it a little too abstract, and the story's emotional tone can be a little too utopian for some people. Children ages 5 to 8 will love this book, especially if their parents or caretakers read it with them. But it may not be the best option for those who prefer to read action-packed stories alone.

This was a lovely book with some cute lessons on how boys can be soft and gentle and kind. I loved the illustrations as well!

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

I'm not crying--you're crying! What a gentle introduction to combatting toxic masculinity. I would recommend this to any caregiver of young boys. It's a fabulous conversation starter.

A gentle, poetic celebration of being a boy with all the softness, color, and dreaming the world allows.
This book invites boys (and anyone reading it) to see strength not just in loudness or toughness, but in gentleness, curiosity, and imagination. The writing is lyrical and open to interpretation, and the illustrations are truly stunning. It feels more like an experience than a typical story, something to pause with, talk about, and feel.
Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this thoughtful book in exchange for an honest review.

Blake Nuto's picture book, "When You're a Boy," attempts to tackle significant themes surrounding gender roles, masculinity, and societal expectations through the lens of a father-son relationship. While the book certainly opens the door for valuable conversations about what it means to be one's authentic self, its approach to challenging traditional norms feels somewhat reductive and ultimately unrealistic.

The artwork in "When You're a Boy" is undeniably charming and engaging, beautifully illustrating various adventures shared between a father and son. This visual storytelling effectively draws readers into the narrative. However, the core message presents a nuanced challenge. Instead of advocating for a balanced understanding of emotions and traits in boys, the book seems to overly emphasize characteristics typically associated with femininity, potentially implying that "softer" masculinity is the only acceptable or "right" path.

While it's crucial to challenge outdated gender stereotypes that limit boys, this book falls short of encouraging them to embrace the full spectrum of their emotions and characteristics, both traditionally masculine and feminine. The outcome, as presented, feels less about fostering a well-rounded individual and more about pushing an unrealistic expectation that masculinity must inherently be gentle to be valid.

Despite these reservations, "When You're a Boy" does serve as a catalyst for important discussions. It can be a starting point for parents and educators to talk with children about the complexities of gender, emotions, and the freedom to express oneself authentically, even if the book itself doesn't quite hit the mark on providing a truly balanced perspective.

While the illustrations were beautiful, I’m not really sure what the story is trying to portray. Some bigger words that kids will not understand, and have to have explained.

I received a copy of this eBook from netGalley for a honest review.

I love this look at what your supposed to be when your a boy and the more gentle, caring ways they have found to be a boy or man.

When you are a boy is a beautifully illustrated book with an intriguing concept for the storyline. However, I found the text to be disjointed and complicated for the intended audience. I did love the wordless pages that allowed for imagination and converstation between the reader and child though. If the storyline is reworked, I would be interested in adding it to my library.

Beautiful writing paired with gorgeous illustrations. I think it’s so important to teach all children, but especially boys, that they can be both strong *and* gentle, and this book captures the duality of human nature in a simple yet impactful way. Such a great read and the perfect addition to my son’s virtual bookshelf!

I loved the illustrations in this .
It was a wonderful tale about the joys of being a boy. Not something I can relate to but was such a joy to read .

This book has some very pretty pictures. I really enjoyed the illustrations. They are the best part of the book, but it's a pretty good story as well.