31 and a Half Things to Know as You Grow by Meg McKinlay, illustrated by Nicky Johnston

Title: 31 and a half Things to Know as You Grow

Author: Meg McKinlay, illustrated by Nicky Johnston

Genre: Fiction

Publisher: Walker Books

Published: 1^st November 2024

Format: Hardcover

Pages: 32

Price: $22.99

Synopsis: From how to make a friend – and be one – standing up for yourself, the importance of looking up, award-winning author Meg McKinlay provides the seeds of good advice, and Nicky Johnston’s illustrations prove to be the perfect examples, all wrapped up in a luxury hardback gift edition.

There are so many wonderful things to know, as you grow…

From award-winning creators Meg McKinlay and Nicky Johnston, a gentle, generous and surprising guide to growing up.

~*~

Growing up is filled with lessons for people of all ages. In fact, you could say that there are lessons about growing up that we learn throughout our lives. Many books about growing up are focused on what happens at various stages, but this one felt like it had a wide appeal for all ages. 31 and a half Things to Know as You Grow celebrates growing up, making friends, sharing, and being part of a family. It shows that there are good and bad things in life, and that often, the bad things are accidents. This is a gentle book, one filled with simple yet layered language about the various lessons we learn as we grow up, and continue to grow.

This is tender book about growing up is lovely, and I think there are some things in it that are specific to childhood, like sharing a room with a sibling, issues at school, and being young. Whilst I felt that some of the other things like moving, making new friends and the joy of doing your own thing are things that are continuous and ongoing lessons for everyone as we grow up throughout life. I read this book twice, because whilst each page has a single line alongside the beautiful illustrations, there are layers to unpack, like in many picture books.

I feel like each picture book can give something different to all kinds of readers, and each age group will get a different lesson and experience out of reading a picture book, whatever age group it is aimed at. I think this is going to be one of those picture books that is aimed at readers of all ages, from the littlest toddlers to primary school-aged children, or even as you transition into various stages of life. It feels like the kind of book that could be given out at graduations, because it has lessons that can be taken on throughout life. That growing up is a continuous and ongoing process.

Books like this are gorgeous, because they have a wonderful message that can teach us all something and remind us of the beautiful things in life and what it really is about. I loved this book and think it will be the kind of book that will have something special for everyone who reads it. This is a great book to give as a gift to people of all ages and all stages of life, and to share with children who are experiences big changes in their lives to reassure them that everything is okay and that even adults have lessons to learn.