Cute!! I love how this book fosters creativity in kids, and it also (subtly) teaches kids that some things are temporary, but that is not always a bad thing.
One of the main things that made this book so great was the illustrations and the use of color. The illustrations start out as completely gray, but by the end of the book the entire town is full of color and life. This was such a smart design choice made by the illustrator because it shows readers the power of making magic out of chalk. Additionally, it shows a progression of tone/mood in the book. This is subtle, but still important to mention.
Lastly, the writing was simple but worked perfectly. It worked so well because the illustrations spoke for a lot of the book. It's clear that the author and illustrator found the perfect balance when producing this book; it's not under- or overwhelming.
Bravo!

This was absolutely adorable! Great rhyming, message, illustrations, and vibrant colors. I read this with my 8 year old daughter and she loved it too. It made us both want to go outside and create with chalk!

This book is a good source of inspiration for sparking creativity for sidewalk chalk designs. It encourages imagination and offers fresh ideas for reinventing everyday spaces. Perfect for reading before chalk activities or creative play with younger kids at school.

Perfect!

The illustrations are perfect. The idea of chalk bringing together kids (and adults). The rhymes. It's all perfectly executed. It even addresses making friends, imagination, and dealing with sadness when the chalk drawings wash away in the rain. I will absolutely read this with my 5-year-old, and may buy a copy for his kindergarten teacher for her classroom.

Recommended age: 3-7 years (preschool - 1st grade)
Audience: School library, classroom teacher, parents

This honest review is given in exchange for a free ebook advanced reader copy.

This children’s book was absolutely adorable! I have two young kiddos and they both told me they gave it a “13/10”. It promotes creativity, friendships, imagination, and perseverance. As we read along the pages, they loved the different scenes promoting imagination and creativity. I think this may be one of our new favorite nightly reads.

Special thanks to NetGalley and Familius for allowing us to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

What a charming book! I love the message about how art can transform the world, bringing joy and color and firing the imaginations. Even the temporary nature of the art only inspires future creativity. That's such a positive message for a child who finds it hard to let go or gets disheartened when her creation doesn't last or has a mistake. The illustrations are delightful. I can imagine reading this to a group of students and then taking them outside to do some sidewalk chalk art.

Me and my family loved this book! My kids found it inspiring, immediately after we went out to chalk our walkways and walls with colorful designs, sun, rainbows, flowers, monsters and more.

When I was little, I loved playing with chalk and everything related to it, including my incessant volunteering to clean the chalk boards every day in the fourth grade. So, when I saw the title “Chalk the Walk,” I couldn’t resist reading it.

Chelsea Tornetto did a fabulous job writing this cute picture book. The word length was perfect and the subject of the book will no doubt resonate with a lot of people.

Quite a few good things can be said for Laurel Aylesworth’s illustrations, namely, that they are really spot-on. The images really looked like they were made off chalk. I also particularly like how at the beginning of the book, Aylesworth chose to show the city as monochromatic, only switching to color later as the children began to chalk the city.

This is a wonderfully written and beautifully illustrated children’s book and one that I absolutely recommend to readers and libraries everywhere.

I received an ARC of “Chalk the Walk,” by Chelsea Tornetto from NetGalley and Familius in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

This book is adorable and made me super nostalgic! It reminded me of when I used to play with chalk on my grandma's driveway and I love that this book is bringing that to another generation. I appreciated the emphasis on it being better than a screen, and hopefully it'll inspire kids to be creative and have fun outside! The illustrations perfectly matched the story!

I loved this story about how chalk can be a wonderful source of creativity on imagination. The story starts grey, but as more ideas and chalk art is added trhe world become more colorful, I think that anology is a wonderful message for children. I love the illistrations in this book. The cover art is what initially grew me to it, and the inside illistrations continuted on just as wonderufl to make the story come to life. I loved the vivid colors and all the little added 'easter eggs' make it s fun read for little ones to point out things they find. I would ,most defeontly share this book with both my students and purchase a copy for my personal library.

Thank you NetGalley, Chelsea Tornetto & Familius for a eARC in exhcnage for my honest review.

If you are searching for a book that introduces your child to glimpses of an “analog life,” this book is for you. Wonderfully written and matched with incredible chalk art, Chalk the Walk is a keeper on your bookshelves. The story tells of infinite ways to play with colored chalk while simultaneously showing its limitations in the end. What stuck with our son was the line when it talked about how chalk activities are better alternatives to screen time. This book began a conversation on why his friend does not play with his toys but keeps playing on his tablet. I explained to him that families are built differently, and we appreciate activities in various ways. This book is also suitable for early readers because the sentences are shorter.

I love this book because, for the last several years, our library has held an event called "Chalk the Walk" where we use sidewalk chalk to decorate the sidewalks and parts of the parking lot at the local senior center! I am so excited to incorporate this book into my program this summer!!!

It is an absolute masterpiece that perfectly captures the essence of community, creativity and self-expression. From the very first page, Tornetto’s writing immerses the reader in the vibrant world of sidewalk art, where each drawing tells a unique story and every line is filled with meaning. Laurel Alyesworth did an amazing work with her illustrations. That Faded grayish scenes to colorful backgrounds were really soothing and tells in itself a story which denotes the meaning of colors in life.

The beauty of this book lies not only in its engaging narrative but also in the way it celebrates the simple joys of life—like the act of chalking up the walkways with colorful designs, which serve as a metaphor for the little things that brighten our days. Tornetto’s prose is both playful and profound, making you smile while also encouraging introspection.

What truly makes "Chalk the Walk" stand out is the way it builds a sense of connection. The characters come alive with relatable struggles and dreams, yet they find solace in something as fleeting and ephemeral as chalk art. This creates a touching sense of impermanence, urging readers to appreciate the present moment. There is a moral that we must be hopeless if some trouble washed away our efforts, we should always be ready to re-write our stories.

If you’re looking for a book that is heartwarming, creative and beautifully written, this is a must-read. Chelsea Tornetto’s ability to capture the magic in the everyday is nothing short of inspiring!

CHALK THE WALK is a joyful, rhythmic celebration of creativity, bursting with playful rhyme and the endless possibilities of chalk. Vibrant, whimsical illustrations bring to life a group of all ages transforming their drab neighborhood into a colorful playground of imagination. A heartwarming story that inspires creativity - a must-have for home and school libraries!

A wonderful book full of color, whimsy, and a powerful message. Through interactions and art we can build a more fun world for ourselves and others. Let the author and artist take you on a lyrical, magical adventure. Perfect for read aloud or read to self in the elementary grades. This book is short and sweet with plenty of connections for BSEL, science, art, and English. A great addition for any school or classroom library.

This was so cute! It centred on creativity and had multiple representations in the characters and drawing.

This would be great as a read-aloud before introducing a chalk art project for young elementary students! I might have to pick up a copy for my teacher friends.