Thank you Regina Feldmann, Martina Stuhlberger (illustrator), NorthSouth Books and NetGalley for sending the ARC of this book.

A tender celebration of friendship, family and the magic of growing up together.

Like a warm patchwork quilt stitched from love, laughter, and the colours of childhood, 9 Little People is a beautifully illustrated ode to the joy of togetherness. Regina Feldmann's sweet, rhyming prose and Martina Stuhlberger's luminous illustrations come together in perfect harmony, telling the story of nine children born on the same day – nine little lives destined to intertwine.

Feldmann's narration sings with simplicity and warmth. Her words capture the little joys and big emotions that we think shape childhood: scraped knees, silly giggles, whispered dreams and comforting hugs. There is a gentle musicality in the language that makes it a delight to read aloud, inviting both children and adults into the circle of friendship she so lovingly draws.

And then there are the illustrations – oh, the illustrations! Martina Stuhlberger fills each page with a rainbow of detail: playful city parks, cosy kitchens and dream filled bedrooms. Each of the nine children is thoughtfully drawn with individual quirks and expressions, making it easy for young readers to spot themselves or their friends within these pages. The art celebrates diversity not just in culture and appearance, but in personality, joyfully reinforcing the message that we all belong.

At its heart, 9 Little People is a celebration of what binds us and what makes us unique. It is a luminous celebration of lifelong friendship. It reminds us that the best stories begin when we grow not just side by side but heart to heart. It's a gentle, glowing reminder that the world is brighter when we grow together, when we accept one another wholly and when we choose to love with open arms and open hearts.

I am an elementary teacher and have taught everywhere from newborn (daycare) all the way to 6th grade. I think this is a perfect book for preschool and the early elementary grades! We are always trying to hard to find books that show diversity in all aspects (race, ethnicity, ability, etc.) and this book showcases all of those differences at once. I think this is a wonderful story that children everywhere can see themselves included in. The illustrations were beautiful to go along with the words.

I wish my little ones were older so I could share this book with them. They would absolutely love the playful illustrations—especially the pages featuring a pool, a park, and a scene with little people and a dog.
Regina Feldmann has written a lovely story about the everyday life of newborns and toddlers. It gently builds a sense of routine, celebrates the richness of diversity (extra 1000 bonus points from me for featuring twins—my girls would be thrilled to see the same big stroller they ride in!), and beautifully highlights the joy of being part of a community.
If you're looking for a sweet, inclusive story to share with your little ones, this book is a wonderful pick. It’s not just charming—it’s thoughtful, relatable, and full of heart.

This short picture book is a celebration of diversity! The pictures are colorful, the message is warm and joyful. I enjoyed the rhyming and found it very readable. This is a solid pick for a baby shower gift for a new infant arrival.

"9 little people," is a sweetly illustrated book about 9 little people born on a single day. These are any 9 children who share the same birthday. Each uniquely experiencing typical childhood joys. A lovely book to encourage discussion for even the youngest little people.

This was a sweet book for children. I think it opens the way for empathy and also the idea of sharing. I think many people don't see this, but in society's parenting, overly teaching children that their birthday is all about them breeds a sense of narcissism. From a young age, I was taught that yes, my birthday was about me, but I wanted people (even if it was just family) to celebrate too, which in turn made it about them as well. This made me grow up to be someone who loved everyone's birthday and wanted to make them feel special on their birthday, as well as my own. So I was not upset when I had a birthday twin, but excited. I think this teaches children that you can share a birthday date with someone and still be unique and special. It also opened up conversations for children on different family units and parental situations.

This was an adorable children’s book, especially for younger kids.
I read this together with my 3 kids (9, 7 and 4) and they all thought it was very cute, but especially the 4-year old was the most excited one of the 3.
The drawings are beautiful, lots of colors and many things to see on each page. It’s also very nice to see a lot of different children in the book from different races, backgrounds and families. It gives a better view of how the world really is. The heart behind the book really highlights friendship and loving each other, no matter what color/race/social status you are.
The one remark I have was that the story itself wasn’t very dense, I was missing a little bit more storytelling or teaching and then the message got a little watered down throughout the book. But I suppose that’s also a good opportunity for the parents or people reading the story to kids to add that extra element to the experience.
3,5🌟

Thank you NetGalley and NorthSouth Books Inc. for giving me an early copy of this book to enjoy with my family in exchange for my honest opinion.

9 Little People is a beautiful story about nine children born on the same day. They have so much in common, and yet each one of them is unique and special. This book is a lovely celebration of joy and friendship.

I really enjoyed it and so did my three-year-old daughter. We read it together, and she loved the illustrations; they’re so beautifully done.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This children's book is perfect for 0-5, maybe even a bit older if you're finding they need to learn and acknowledge inclusivity. It is 9 children born the same day from different families but all in the same location. They get along and do activities together. It's very sweet. The rhyming is perfect, very melodic for a right before bed or nap story. I can see it becoming a favorite quickly. The illustrations are very cute and perfect for this book.
Thank you, NetGalley, Regina Feldmann, and NorthSouth Books Inc. for this advanced reader’s copy, I enjoyed reading it with my youngest!

9 Little People by Regina Feldmann is a joyful celebration of individuality, imagination, and the quiet magic found in everyday moments. With gentle prose and playful illustrations the book introduces us to nine unique children, each with their own distinct personalities, quirks, and dreams, all born on the same day. From the curious to the cautious, the wild to the shy, every child is lovingly portrayed as wholly themselves, reminding readers that there is no one way to be a young person in this big, wondrous world. There's a poetic quality to the storytelling that honors both the smallness and vastness of childhood. This picture book is a quiet gem. Perfect for classroom conversations about self-expression. 9 Little People reminds us that every child, in all their complexity, deserves to be seen.

Thank you NorthSouth Books Inc. -- NorthSouth Books for allowing me to read and review 9 Little People by Regina Feldmann on NetGalley.

Published: 09/02/25

Stars: 2.5

I found the illustrations difficult to follow and the story repetitious. I did read 9 Little People on my tablet and after going over the book a second time I don't think a physical book would help me (sometimes it does).

The author does have a nice Author's Note where she explains her thinking.

What a beautiful book about friendship, diversity, and acceptance. Equalizing all the characters by making them children born on the same day was a genius idea. I adore the art style so much. This is the type of book I would buy to reread to my kid at night. This is a must read for all parents to the next generation!

Nine little babies are all born on the same day and live in the same neighborhood. They come from different races, incomes and family types. But the focus is on how they are all similar. It is a lesson on inclusivity. They all can enjoy the pool, art, making plans and being friends. I liked the cheery illustrations and thought this can easily be enjoyed by younger grades or read to pre-schoolers.

9 Little People is a cute story with beautiful illustrations. Written in a rhymes, the story is easy to read and engaging for kids. It follows nine children's from birth through childhood showing how they are both a lot a like but also each one unique in their own way.

What a cute little book!!!

Thank you to for the chance to read an early copy of this.

First of all, I really appreciated the art style of this book. For a time where AI art is such a plague, this was just so so refreshing to see. Second, I thought the book was really cute. It was a cute little book highlighting friendships and the different lives each children had. They were also all unique in their own way, which was great because it applies to a large audience. Kids who read this book will see themselves and that's beautiful. I also thought the little message at the end was really sweet as well.

Overall a nice feel good book, would recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley and NorthSouth Books for an advanced copy of this book.

There are a lot of things I appreciate about this book. I love the author's intention behind choosing to feature nine children rather than ten. The artwork is beautiful and soothing while still encouraging engagement and exploration. The gentle approach of presenting a diverse group of individuals and families was done in a lovely way that did not come across as bombastic or preachy.

However, there were some aspects of the book that left me feeling confused. Some of the language choices were odd - in particular: "9 little people would burp more if they could." Another issue for me was the presence of some perceived inconsistencies when attempting to track specific children and families across the pages; at times it was difficult to identify the "featured 9" amidst rotating familial adults and what I assume were other siblings. I could probably figure it out if I went back and studied each figure intently, but I don't think that should be necessary for this type of book.

Overall, a sweet book but not one that I would go out of my way to recommend.

I thought this was pretty cute overall. I was pleased with the inclusion and diversity, as I am a mother of a special needs kiddo. The idea is tad overdone I think but the intention was there. The illustrations are beautiful and I enjoyed the fruit page the best! Also the authors note in the back was a little odd at the beginning…. #campnetgalley

While the pictures are really cute, I found the story not really outstanding. Like… there are already many books alike. The idea of diversity is nice, but I think we should stay to what we are created for. Would it be confusing for children to see mothers in a family? Wouldn’t it be so unnatural to have little people that way? #CampNetGalley

This book reminds me of 10 Little Fingers and 10 Little Toes. It has the same idea of inclusion. I really enjoyed the illustrations they were absolutely gorgeous. I thought it was a bit long for a children’s book. Maybe an older child would enjoy it, but then I worry that the concept would be too repetitive.

Nine children are born on the same day and grow up together. They have different families, different traditions, and different abilities. They're all complete, and they can all be friends.

This book is gently inclusive and very playful. Alongside the children, we get to see the many ways that people might be different as well as the ways we're all the same. I appreciate the idea that everyone belongs, no matter what they look like or where their families come from. There's not much of a plot, but I think this would be a fun circle time or bedtime book.

Thank you to NetGalley and NorthSouth Books for this ARC. All opinions are my own.