this book was very educational and I like the black representation. One issue I had is that at first there were hardly any words on the pages and then randomly it started to have 3-4 paragraphs. I couldn't tell what age group this was for.

The explanations to a real world problem, and the way the author approaches the subject for small children to understand is intriguing for many audiences. The illustrations are bright and eye catching making the read interesting to look at and fun even when talking about something like scary soot outside.

What a wonderful book to not only explain how pollution is part of climate change but to give an example of what one person can do to help! Even young children (the target audience) will easily understand. This was a fun read and has a terrifically hopeful message!

A good visual lesson about air quality, what destroys it, and how everyone can help counteract the pollution if only we try. "A Story of Courage, Clean Air, and Caring for Our World"
The illustrations by the author are relatable, colorful, and reinforce the lesson.
Well suited for reading WITH someone of any age including ESL, and great for gifting to everyone, but especially to a school, waiting room, or your local public library! Pub Date Aug 11, 2025
I requested and received a temporary uncorrected galley proof from Iskanchi Press | Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), Members' Titles via NetGalley. ***** #review #goodreads #storygraph #NetGalley @librarythingofficial @bookbub
#TheSoot written and illustrated by @ayo_oyeku #IskanchiPress @ibpalovesindies #NetGalley #EcoKids #KidsBooks #kidlit #cleanair #picturebooks #childrensbookillustration @childrensbookcouncil #bookshop_org #bookshop_org_uk #ChildrensBooks #MustRead

I really loved the artwork inside, however, I always expect the cover art and art inside to match in mods books. This book was a great conversation started with my son about climate change. Possibly not a book we would read at home but I think it would be great for in school.

I love the contract of color and grayscale in this book. One of the things I love most about children's books is the use of color and imagry to convey complex thoughts and ideas. This one is illustrated in such a way that even a pre-reader knows what is going on. A lovely book on how to explain pollution to kids!

The message from the overall book was good, and it led to good talking points with my kids. I will say, the ending seems rushed, like others have said, but it wasn't as bad as I anticipated. Unfortunately, the words ran together and the art seemed unpolished (and different than the cover art). It was hard to make it out, especially on a tablet. With some improvement, I think it could be a stellar book!

I loved this story. My favourite part was definitely the art. It was so vibrant and captivating - really stole the show. Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the early review copy.

The Soot by Ayo Oyeku is a cute and thoughtful story that gives kids an age-appropriate look at air pollution. The idea of soot as a heavy blanket around the Earth is super clever and makes the message easy to get. The bright, detailed illustrations keep it fun, even with a serious topic. Some parts felt a little choppy and the ending was quick, but overall it’s a great way to start a conversation with kids about helping the planet.

A delightful and culturally sensitive introduction to environmentalism, with lush illustrations, this short title is sure to spark conversation and ignite young minds.

The sudden contrast from the beautiful and vibrant pink room to the dark, grey soot grabbed my attention immediately. I loved the little details of the clouds actually being lips that suck up the soot to match Chisom’s imagination. I also really loved that in the end, her mother didn’t just use words to settle Chisom’s fears, but used her actions by planting a sapling with her.

What a cute way to introduce to children a way to start caring about the planet! The art felt very diverse and unique. It was a good message, and a good read that would be informative for children! Thanks for the Arc read!

This is a story about global warming, how a girl is made aware of the issue, and how she and her mom choose to try fixing it.

A short, sweet book about climate anxiety in children, the ending is a little abrupt (one more page with a "this is how we can help" type thing would feel more final I suspect), but it's a nice explainer in story form for a small child

I received an advance copy for free from NetGalley, on the expectation that I would provide an honest review.

"The Soot" by Ayo Oyeku is a charming story about a little girl who is concerned about pollution negatively affecting the planet. I think this story can serve as a great introduction to air pollution for children because it explains the topic in very simple terms. The representation of soot acting like a suffocating blanket around the Earth was very clever, and it really communicates a sense of urgency to help the planet. The illustrations were detailed and unique, and I appreciated the bright colors of the illustrations, which will not only help keep a child's attention while reading but also provide a nice contrast to the dark soot. The transitions between scenes were a little clunky, and the ending was a little abrupt, but the message is definitely received.

I think this is a wonderful book to introduce children to concepts of environmental issues.
The book has beautiful illustrations and make it easy for kids to to follow along.

For the most part I liked this book, but I thought that it ended abruptly. I would have liked to see at least one last sentence, just to add a note finality to the story. The book could still be open-ended, but a little bit of closure is still nice.
However, that is my only critique for this book. I really liked the general message of this book, and I think that it is very important for kids to learn just how important trees are for both us and the Earth. This book does a great job of making air pollution and trees very easy-to-understand for little kids, and the information included in this story will definitely be relevant past childhood, so I applaud that choice.
Lastly, I thought that the illustrator did a splendid job of conveying Chisom's various emotions at different points in the story, and it really helps readers become more involved in the book.

The story is cute and well written giving a good intro to children on how respect the planet but the netgalley copy was so messy it was terrible. The illustrations were good

The Soot: How Chisom Battles the Dark Clouds Over Her City

Ayo Oyeku
a multicultural book that shows the effects of environmental problems that children are subjected to. The young girl finds a what that children can change the environment making the earth better.

A short story that stands true to its title and the one line description alongside. A young girl wakes up to find dark clouds of soot floating in the air. From her mother and her teacher she learns how it's generated and its hazards, what possibly can be done by each one of us to prevent this soot from enveloping the earth like a blanket. The end felt sudden and abrupt, the words are cramped together without spacing between them, making the process of reading the story on Netgalley reader uncomfortable.
Good message with good pictures, wish the text layout was better and the story a little longer to leave more impact