The illustrations and diversity of the characters was really enjoyable, and I loved that the “9 little people” grew into older children together. However, the story wasn’t quite there for me. I wish there had been more to read in regards to the diversities of the cultures that the children came from because there is a whole lot more to families than just the minimum glimpse into their lives.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Quick Summary: A children's book with a deeper message

My Review: 9 Little People written by Regina Feldmann and illustrated by Martina Stuhlberger is listed as "Children's Fiction | Multicultural Interest | Parenting & Families." It is scheduled for release on 9/2/25.

About the Book: "9 Little People is an ode to friendship and family. It is an ode to belonging and acceptance. It invites children–and their families–to imagine a community where everyone is brought together by their commonalities, as well as celebrated for their differences."

In My Own Words: Young and young at heart individuals join together and celebrate life. Though different, they find commonalities and connection.

My Final Say: I adored this lighthearted book. It's message was very simple yet profoundly meaningful. The artwork communicated the story's lesson beautifully. I loved the representation - not one group or ability level was left out. That spoke volumes. I also loved how the littles banded together with a focused aim on love and peace. That magnified a message of hope. Lastly, I loved the author's letter to the reader. It was touching.


To the Author: Thank you for your sensitivity and understanding. I know exactly what you were referring to. Your child's innocent question sparked a movement. I am so glad you heard the bigger message. (Out of the mouth of babes, right?)

Rating: 4.5/5
Recommend: Yes
Audience: K
Status/Level: ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
Note: This book would be ideal as a family read aloud and/or as a young reader for kids.
Special Remarks: The color of the font was challenging to read at times. The white on white made it difficult to detect on the reading platform. The author/publisher should be mindful of this and, perhaps, make any necessary adjustments.

Appreciation is extended to the author, to the publisher (NorthSouth Books Inc. | NorthSouth Books), and to NetGalley. Thank you for the opportunity to review this title. The words I have shared are my own.

#CampNetGalley

Excellent children's book. I really enjoyed the diversity and celebration of differences. The art and length was perfect for a pre-k read and attention span. I will be recommending this book to my childcare and pre-k friends.

This is such a cute, short but sweet read that’s perfect for littles! As a teacher I would definitely recommend this for a read aloud as it demonstrates diversity in people, families, food, and more that students can observe and discuss. I would use this for lower elementary but also think it can be used for any age as well to spark those conversations. As a mother, I would definitely add this to my child’s library as well. I loved the illustrations, can’t wait to see this on the book shelves!

That was so fun, bright, and entertaining!
The diversity tho!! What a chef's kiss!!!
It was becoming a game for me and my son to find the details on each page. We high-fived each other when we spotted the mother with a hijab at the same time. Representation matters!
Though I need to change and add more stories related to the illustrations because my son liked it when there were more adventures and stories in his books, and this book only provided short rhymes. Not a problem at all.

Thank you to Regina Feldmann, NorthSouth Books Inc., and NetGalley for the ARC.

As a pre-k teacher I would have this book in my classroom. It has short pages which are great for younger attention spans, and the pictures tell a story all on their own so children looking at the book unable to read the words still get a lot of meaning from the book. It could also be used in lessons for so many topics, from friendship, sharing, diversity, families, and how to be a community. I love the diversity in the children, and the subtle disability representation is amazing. The authors note at the end is really sweet and I love the meaning behind why it's 9 Little People.

4 stars - Thank you NetGalley for this ARC!

This was so cute, fast, and I loved that everything rhymed. There was diversity, which I love, and enjoyable. How fun that 9 people were born on the same day and have lots in common, but each one is different and they love each other equally.

I really loved this book. It shows 9 families raising their children in different but equally important ways. The illustrations are beautiful. It’s a great way to show children diversity and that people and families come in all forms.

9 Little People is a sweet, beautifully illustrated book with simple rhymes that seem just right for babies and toddlers. The bright, engaging pictures make it perfect for little ones learning to observe and count. I read it with my son, and while we enjoyed discussing the illustrations, at age five he's starting to prefer books with more of a storyline.

Still, this would make a lovely addition to a baby's first library or a toddler storytime.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC and the chance to share my thoughts! This book will be released September 2025.

#9LittlePeople #NetGalley

Thank you to NetGalley and NorthSouth Books Inc. | NorthSouth Books for the opportunity to read an Advanced Reader's Copy (ARC) in exchange for my honest opinion/review. This is one of the books I picked up for Camp NetGalley 2025! #campnetgalley

This adorable story features nine diverse children who change, grow, and celebrate important moment together. I really enjoyed seeing the different backgrounds highlighted and the ranges of physical abilities represented.

I read this with my *almost 3 year old and he was very engaged throughout the story.

The illustrations were superb. They were colorful and eye-catching. The story was quick, pleasant, and it was clear my child enjoyed the rhymes.

I loved the diversity featured throughout the story and especially enjoyed the authors note in the back explaining their choice for why they went with the number 9.

There are nine children born on the same day. They are all born in different types of families and live different lives. This children's book is an excellent addition to the library and your home library.

***What I thought and what my 2-year-old thought***

Story/Plot

I thought the story was done well; it had my two-year-old completely engaged in the story.

The word nine was repeated on every page. I bring this up because this is an excellent story for parents or even teachers when teaching numbers to kids. It also teaches diversity—how not all are the same. There are many other points that I can bring up about how this story is an excellent teaching material. The story is short and has a sort of rhyming aspect to it, so that really helps to promote early readers. The best part of the story as an adult is the author's note about how changing the norm of promoting the perfect ten. I think this is an extremely powerful message.

Illustrations—

The art was more of an older style, almost like a watercolor style. The art was very eye-catching to my two-year-old. It gave the whole book a nostalgic feeling. If you took the words away from the page, the art still told the story, which is good for children that cannot read yet. It helps the child follow along with the story while someone is reading them the words. This can also help the child connect the story to the images.

Overall, this would be a great addition to any child's library.

9 Little People is a beautifully inclusive and heartwarming picture book that quietly celebrates diversity, kindness, and belonging. Through gentle rhymes and tender illustrations, we meet nine children—each born on the same day but from different walks of life. Whether they come from varying cultural backgrounds, family structures, or live with different abilities, each child is shown as equally loved, valued, and worthy.

The story’s message is simple yet powerful: our differences make us special, and love connects us all. With soft, whimsical artwork and a calm, rhythmic flow, this story is perfect for little ones an—ideal for bedtime or cozy read-alouds.

Thank you to NetGalley, Regina Feldman, and NorthSouth Books Inc. for the ARC—I truly enjoyed this lovely read.

A wonderful story about diversity through the lens of friendship. Gorgeous illustrations! I highly recommend this one.

9 Little People by Regina Feldmann is a sweet and beautifully illustrated book that celebrates diversity and friendship. I enjoyed the language and whimsy as well. Recommended.

9 Little People is a beautifully illustrated book about the way our communities shape us into who we are. I thoroughly enjoyed looking through the different pictures, and I'd imagine a child/toddler would enjoy this aspect as well. My biggest issue with this book was how tiny the writing was on each page, as well as how badly it blended in to the background of lighter colors (like clouds). This could be an issue only with the ARC and the NetGalley eReader, but I genuinely had to squint and zoom in on the pages where this issue occurred because the text was so hard to read. If the text were in black, all of these issues would be resolved.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy

9 Little People by Regina Feldmann is a rhyming picture book about nine children who are born on the same day. With minimal prose and colorful imagery, the pictures are allowed to speak for themselves to tell a story about family and friendship.

I really loved how the prose emphasized that the families on the page are different and the children all lead very rich lives. There’s an Asian mother in a wheelchair, a Muslim family, Black families, a single mother, a Queer family, and more. When people are arguing that there is only one kind of family that is ‘good,’ books like this are so important for the children who come from families who don’t fit that narrow definition to be able to see themselves.

The art is very cute and has a lot of soft lines and colors. There’s a roundness to the shape of the human characters that helps add to that softness. This is the kind of picture book that I think young children might find easy to copy when they pick up a pencil to try their hand at freestyle art and I love it when picture books have that kind of style. It doesn’t make the art simple; it makes it accessible in another way.

I would recommend this to guardians of young readers and educators looking for picture books depicting a variety of families and young readers who prefer rhyming picture books.

9 Little People is a short fun read showcasing a range of cultures and diversity. I read this to my 4yo and it held his attention throughout. The art style is attractive and colourful. Great little book suitable for pre school children.

9 Little People is a sweet and simple story that gives a great message to young readers about how people may be different yet so same. The illustration complements the story beautifully.

What a cute and short book - but beware, it sparks young minds to discuss and make up their own stories for each of the 9 Little People as well as ask many many questions with every single page! It's a great book to have a discussion and teach about diversity and empathizing with others. The book is very colorful. So many little details to take notice of and talk about. Would definitely recommend this book for friends and classroom settings. Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book as an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.