Review by School Library Journal Review
K-Gr 3--A trek through the great outdoors sets the stage for a meditation on healthy masculinity. A father (white) and son (with dark brown skin) set off on an excursion, wandering through vast meadows, sheltering from a storm in a quiet cave, crossing a river on a fallen tree, and scaling a high mountain. All the while, readers are treated to a series of poetic reveries on the essence of boyhood, in which force and cruelty are rejected in favor of beauty and tenderness. Nuto's lyrical text resounds with gripping imagery ("sky-shifting thunders") and metaphor ("the strong shield of slowly, and the sharp sword of sorry") effectively matched by loose, energetic illustrations of the salt spray on ocean rocks and the crackling sparks of a campfire. Though the intention here is unquestionably well-meaning and forward-thinking, the premise--that boys as a collective are currently held to these harsh expectations--may not be as applicable today as in the past. Will a boy raised without such rigid gender stereotypes relate to (or even understand) a book that intones, "When you're a boy, you are told how to be," or will he feel suddenly burdened with ideas his family never laid on him to begin with? In his rush to subvert stereotypes, Nuto proclaims them as strong and widespread as ever, a simplistic approach that would have benefited from a little nuance. VERDICT Despite its positive intentions and arresting presentation, this paean to gentle masculinity paints with an overly broad brush.--Jonah Dragan
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Review by Horn Book Review
A man and a boy hike through several different landscapes, including a rocky mountainside, a dense forest, and a field of flowers. "When you're a boy, you are told how to be like the sky-shifting thunders. But I've learned the sweetness of dancing, the softness of music, and the power of healing." This welcome picture book tackles society's often-limited expectations for boys and offers alternative perspectives and an expanded view. Double-page spreads in muted, calming colors reveal the pair's closeness. (c) Copyright 2025. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
A child navigates the wilderness of boyhood. In this poetic meditation on masculinity, an unnamed boy, who has medium-brown skin, along with his lighter-skinned, dark-haired father figure, wind their way past the ocean, through the woods, and up a mountain. The beautiful illustrations combine rough brush strokes and cute, simplistic faces with expertly captured light, color, and emotions. Meanwhile, the narrator, who may or may not be the boy depicted, uses natural similes to describe what is typically expected of boys--ferocity, strength, drive, violence, surety--as well as the softer, gentler things in life from which the narrator has learned to draw real power. The text does not inherently imply that those traditional masculine traits are always bad; after all, oceans, thunder, and mountains are just as much a part of nature as butterflies and flowers. Yet it expands the horizons of what it means to be powerful, including such things as patience, healing, and saying "sorry." The first few sets of traits are more loosely connected, with the juxtaposition crystalizing as the book goes on, but overall the story reads smoothly, making its point succinctly and artfully. This is a great book to include in a child's picture-book rotation, especially a young boy's, and perhaps a jumping-off point for discussing the messages about masculinity that he may be receiving elsewhere. An affirming inoculation against toxic masculinity.(Picture book. 4-8) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
