When You're A Boy, written by Blake Nuto, is a sweet book written for young readers. This book, with beautiful words and illustrations, talks about some of the things that are expected of you when you are a boy, but also ways that it is okay to act too. I loved that this book goes against stereotypes of how children of different genders should act, and reminds young readers that it is okay to feel all the feels!

Thank you to NetGalley, and to the author and publisher of this book for an advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this book about banishing the age-old expectations of boys and men.

The story is told through a beautiful nature narrative and shows a little boy and his father exploring the wild world around them.

The author has expertly shown what used to be, and sometimes still is, expected of boys; they are told to be permanently strong, never show fear or weakness etc.
They are expected to be "like swift sweeping rivers", but instead he has found "the wisdom of waiting, the courage of patience and the strength of contentement".

This book for me was a beautiful poem, wrapped in a children's story and wrapped again in beautiful illustrations.

An enjoyable and important read for both children and adults!

I love the use of poetic language and structure to defy the conventional narrative that boys are meant grow up to be fighters and delight in the pursuit of aggression. Instead the text highlights the power, strength, courage and wisdom of being reflective of enjoying nature of being you. The images are beautiful and complement the words. The placement of the words is also highly effective from the dancing letters to the string line along the log. There is such a wealth of discussion that so many children will enjoy with adults. It will change opinions and help those who enjoy natures, who enjoy being considerate and feel comfortable to explore the world around them feel that they have a voice.

This sweet story wonderfully illustrates that gentleness, kindness, and artistic expression aren't qualities reserved only for girls. The spectacular, dreamy illustrations enhance a powerful message about breaking gender stereotypes. Boys aren't required to be tough all the time, and this short, engaging read demonstrates that beautifully. Highly recommended for both girls and boys - a perfect tool for parents and educators looking to nurture children's authentic selves beyond limiting stereotypes.

Thank you North Star Editions | Jolly Fish Press & NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

What a wonderful book for boys! As a mother of 2 young boys I appreciate this book so much! Sometimes, we as parents need the help of a good book to express our feelings or even better explain ourselves. This book does just that! It is beautifully written (Also contains great vocabulary for children to learn). Overall it just leaves you with warm, heartfelt feelings while also teaching boys that they can be, have and do more than just the stereotypical boy things.

This is a really nice picture book....using water color like drawings, perfectly colored in appropriate tones.... The simple, easy text is poem like, & is a wonderful offering/message..... This would be such a great book to share with a little boy....or even a 'not so little' boy! A wonderful message! An asset to every library!
I received an e-ARC of the book from publisher North Star Editions/Jolly Fish Press via NetGalley in exchange for reading it & posting my own fair/honest review.

This is a such a fantastic book for boys, I actually have a daughter but I have six nephews and so many friends with young sons and this will definitely be a book I gift to them because the message is so perfect.
My only wish was that the illustrations were a little bit brighter and clearer or even the other direction of whimsical, although that may be the girl mom in me. Lol

Thank you Jolly Fish Press for the the arc via Netgalley!

While this book is illustrated beautifully, I am unsure if the poetry would be well received in a primary elementary classroom setting. As a passing book, perhaps, but it doesn't have a huge relation to the curriculum and might not be understood clearly by young boys. This might be a good book to introduce poetry in an upper elementary setting.

This is such a lovely book about being a boy in all its wonderful nuanced ways. Parents of boys who wish to impart the knowledge that you can be strong and soft, you can be brave and scared, and you can feel all of your feelings will love this book. Boys need nurturing just as much, if not more, than girls and this mom of two boys is a huge fan!

This is a beautifully illustrated story teaching boys that it’s ok to rough and tough, but also to nurture their sensitive side. Boys learn that stopping to appreciate life and everything it has to offer. Sensitivity is not just for girls, but boys as well. Some of the text may be difficult for young readers and I’m not sure the text and its comparison are really compatible.
Overall, it is a very nice book

When You're a Boy by Blake Nuto is a beautifully illustrated children's book that aims to tech boys how to be observant and approach the world around them with kindness. It acknowledges the ways boys are socialized to be strong and fierce but phrases it through a lens of kindness. This book would make a wonderful addition to any boy's library!

When You’re a Boy ensures the reader that it’s okay to possess stereotypical feminine traits like the impulse to nurture and be kind. The lesson is so so very important in this day and age! Boys should know that they’re safe to express themselves through dance, art, and dreams.

While I think the theme is so crucially important and the illustrations are super sweet and gentle, the message gets lost somewhere. The structure doesn’t allow for an easy flow. Blake Nuto is a great illustrator and clearly has a passion for his work!

I will be on the lookout for other works by this author to buy for my children and mom friends.

Thank you NetGalley, Blake Nuto, and North Star Editions for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This picture book is so gorgeous. And the story was so wise, loving and sentimental. The little boy is taking a trip through beautiful nature with his father and talking about the difference between how he's expected to be, versus what qualities are really better, such as kindness and patience.
Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read this

This was a wonderful book. It's a gorgeous picture book with an important message to boys. I love that the book encourages kindness, patience, and softness instead of the stereotypical traits of masculinity.

Urgent! Alert! Author! Publisher! If you're reading this, fix this book! Almost every other page of this otherwise pretty worthwhile book is nearly unreadable, at least on my screen, because there is unreadable black text placed over dark/black backgrounds. I legit clicked right past whole pages containing text before realizing, then had to go back and try to highlight around the screen to discover where the text was. There is at least one page where the illustration is dark enough that they make the text white, but that needs to be done for at least four or five more spreads. Just make all the text that is not on white/virtually white backgrounds white!

Aside from this critical issue, this is a fairly nice book; I liked the charming, "rough" illustration style. A (presumed) father and son go for a hike together, while the basic gist of the text is "they tell boys to be like x very strong/powerful/dominating natural force, but I have learned to also be like y more gentle/slow/observational natural force." Rinse and repeat. I didn't mind the repetitious nature of the narrative; it hit like poetry, but I do think that children sitting down to hear this might find it getting same-y over the course of the book. I also kind of wish that the visual contained more of a concrete narrative, like the dad and son overcoming an obstacle on their hike, getting to a "finishing point," something like that...as it is, it feels like just a series of "hiking through nature scenes" accompanying a series of "boys can be like this, too" statements.

Two stars right now because the book is broken; if the fixed that I'd bump it to 2.5 or 3.

The words on the page flow like poetry and demonstrate to people who identify as boys that they can be gentle, sensitive and kind. Often they are told to be tough in order to be a "boy" - we are often given messages about our gender from very young ages and sometimes kids don't necessarily fit the mold. They get taunted and made to feel as if something is wrong with them because they are quiet, thoughtful or sweet, even.

This book will help children who demonstrate feelings in ways that may not be stereotypically identified as associated with being a "boy". It will show them that it's okay to be different and to feel things and demonstrate their feelings.



Thank you to Flux!, Jolly Fish Press, and NetGalley for allowing me to preview this book in an electronic ARC format.

Had the chance to read this through an advanced copy and what a treat it was! This picture book has beautiful illustrations. It follows a father and son through vast landscapes and tells the story of how true strength in manhood can be found in kindness, patience, and quietness. It opposes the loud, obnoxious “manly manhood”narrative in a captivating way. This is a must add to your children’s library, especially if you have a boy.

I'm a trans man so growing up nobody teached me how to be boy or a man. I kinda just teached myself by observing others. And even tho I wasn't teached these things as a child I could relate to everything mentioned in the book. Every word hit on a deep level. Plus the art was just gorgeous.