The story was cute. The overall message was given well. Good for children. Illustrations were amazing, again great for children to understand what's going on!

I loved the illustrations so much. The illustrations were comical but still showed the great details of each character that appeared in this book.
While this book has a great message for the little one, I struggled to read it to my son because he was only 4 years old. I needed to change all the words and come up with a different story while still related to the illustrations.
I think my son got the messages even just a little bit. I counted it as a win, as I mentioned he was only 4 years old. Even I, 30 years 30-year-old grown-up, sometimes have difficulty with comprehension.
My son loved the illustrations as much as I did. He liked the combination of black and white and colorful colors.

Thank you to DJ Corchin, Dan Dougherty, The phazelFOZ Company, LLC, and NetGalley for the ARC.

I received an electronic ARC from The phazelFOZ Company, LLC through NetGalley.
In this companion story to A Thousand No's, Corchin shows readers how much of themselves they lose when they say yes to everyone and don't keep something in reserve for themselves. When we drain ourselves helping others, we become exhausted and drained ourselves. Plus, we don't allow our friends to problem solve and grow themselves. I love the many yes designs included in the illustrations. The author offers encouragement at the end by showing readers they can start again and reconstruct their plans. They may be different but they show growth. Equally important, this attitude models perseverance for others. The final illustration captures this clearly. Looking forward to reading both books with students.

Everyone should read this little book. The illustrations are vey inviting and engaging! The writer has a great way of making this story SO impactful! The way DJ Corchin goes about telling that if we give too much then we don't have any left for ourselves and if we don't have anything in us, then we have nothing to share/give. Great for people wo might have a hard time saying "no".

This story covers a much-needed topic. It could be just as meaningful to the teachers reading the story as it will be to the students hearing it. The only fault I found with it was that the character art was eery. Otherwise, it's a great way to show that self-care is needed alongside helping others.

This is a great story about the importance of looking after yourself whilst helping out others. We quite often put others needs first and forget about ourselves! I loved how this was illustrated and I think it’s a story for everyone - young and old!

This is SUCH a wonderful picture book. This is a hard lesson for even some adults, but definitely when we tell kids to always share and always be helpful, we need to remind them that you have to take care of yourself first. You have to nurture your "yes" before you can pass them on to others.

This is a lovely, simple, but effective story that would be lovely suited for my class of year one children. The illustrations and colour are wonderful and the use of black and white works well. This picture book would definitely be one to read in class to help children understand that it is ok to say no and how true friends will stick around,

Adding this to my list ready to buy paperback!

The idea and illustrations of this book are really good! I think this book would be great to read to 1st-3rd graders followed by a discussion to help explain what this means to kids.

Boundaries are VERY important for everyone to have and this book highlights that importance. By giving away yourself too much there won't be anything left for you! BUT you can help others in different ways. This book showed boundaries- healthy and unhealthy in a way that many kids will be able to easily understand and follow.

This is not just a children's picture book. It's a book that adults can use, especially those who struggle to say 'no' and end up depleting themselves in the process. The illustrations by Dan Dougherty do a fantastic job of being minimalistic, pairing well with the words of this book by DJ Corchin. The pop of colors and line work is intriguing. I'd say YES for this book.

A perfect book — for all ages.
It gently yet powerfully reminds us how important it is to take care of ourselves, even when we genuinely want to help others. Saying “yes” all the time may come from kindness, but eventually it can leave us drained, with no energy left for our own well-being.
A beautiful message about boundaries, balance, and self-respect.

Book 136 of 350 ~ 2025

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Everyone needs to read this, especially if you are a yes man.

I received a complimentary copy of the ebook. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ 4.5 Stars — A Joyous Affirmation of Possibility and Positivity

A Million YES’s by DJ Corchin and illustrated by Dan Dougherty is a heartwarming and inspiring picture book that explodes with enthusiasm and a resounding celebration of the power of saying “Yes.” With every turn of the page, readers are pulled into a rhythmic, poetic chant that encourages curiosity, courage and boundless imagination.

The narrative is simple yet deeply meaningful—following a young, vibrant character who chooses to embrace the world with open arms, fueled by the word “YES.” From the smallest dreams to the wildest aspirations, this book teaches children (and reminds adults) that positivity and self-belief can open up a world of wonder. Corchin’s words are energetic and lyrical, while Dougherty’s illustrations complement the tone beautifully with their lively, expressive art style that bursts with color and movement.

What makes this book stand out is how it balances joyful energy with an undercurrent of emotional intelligence—it subtly empowers readers to push past fear or hesitation. It’s a cheerleader in book form.

The only slight drawback—and the reason for the half-star deduction—is that the message, while powerful, becomes slightly lagging toward the end. A bit more variation in examples or settings could have maintained the momentum perfectly.

Still, A Million YES’s is an exuberant read-aloud choice for classrooms, families and dreamers of all ages. It’s not just a book—it’s a celebration of life’s limitless possibilities. It tells the reader about the importance of NO too. If your 'NO' doesn't mean anything then no one cares for your 'YES'.

The concept behind this book was good. Saying yes to too many people and not yourself can leave you tired, exhausted, depleted. Taking care of yourself and setting boundaries is important. What annoyed me was the first character had they/them pronouns. Why? Why was that necessary? I am reading this book to a child who has a hard enough time with singular pronouns, why confuse him with they/them when there is one character there? Just use the character’s first name. Just my opinion and annoyed me more right off the bat.

A Million YES's by DJ Corchin is a wonderful children's book that teaches children how to set healthy boundaries.

Seriously, where was this book when I was growing up!? It would have saved me a lot of trouble and exhaustion 😅 The message is very important, especially since kids tend to take on too much with good intentions. I also really liked the ending, and think it's a great lesson/solution for those who find themselves in this situation :)

The art style is whimsical and cute, and I like how the book shifts from colorful to black and white as a metaphor for the main character's emotional state.

I will 100% be reading this book to my children, as well as recommending it for their teachers and school library!

What a great book on how to set boundaries! I feel like this book is something that even adults need to read. I loved the artwork and the contract of color and clack and white.

This book will definitely become part of my SEL collection. I teach middle school and it’s an extremely important time to teach students about boundaries. Many of them overload themselves with activities and have a difficult time, balancing things in their lives. Learning to say no to people and yes to the things that truly make them happy is an important Way to self advocate.

A Million YES’s is a heartfelt, all-ages picture book about a girl who gives away her YES’s to help others, only to find that she’s lost sight of her own needs and her carefully crafted plan. As she learns to set healthy boundaries, the story gently reminds readers that saying no can be one of the most loving things we do for ourselves—and for those we care about. This empowering tale by DJ Corchin and Dan Dougherty encourages self-care, appropriate sharing, and personal growth in a way that is accessible to kids and just as meaningful for adults.

This was a fantastic book with a message that absolutely hits the mark. Whether you’re little or grown, A Million YES’s speaks to anyone who has ever struggled with giving too much of their time, energy, or attention. It’s also a thoughtful nudge for those who haven’t yet faced this challenge, offering a gentle cautionary tale wrapped in warmth and wisdom.

I especially loved the way the illustrations shift between color and black and white to reflect the emotional tone of the story—it’s a clever and powerful visual metaphor for balance and well-being. The book reminded me of the quiet brilliance of Shel Silverstein, with its combination of whimsical storytelling and meaningful life lessons.

There’s also a lovely layer of inclusive representation in the illustrations, showing characters of different cultures and abilities. That matters deeply, especially in stories that are meant to guide and shape young minds.

This is a beautifully told and illustrated message about boundaries, self-care, and being true to yourself. I highly recommend it for families, classrooms, and even grown-ups who might need a gentle reminder that saying no is sometimes the most generous thing you can do.

Thank you to NetGalley and The phazelFOZ Company, LLC for the advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

A Million Yes's by DJ Corchin is a wonderful picture book that helps kids understand the importance of setting healthy boundaries and finding balance between being kind and taking care of themselves. The illustrations are bright, fun, and full of energy—making this book a joy to read from start to finish. I loved everything about this book!