Due to a sudden, unexpected passing in the family a few years ago and another more recently and my subsequent (mental) health issues stemming from that, I was unable to download this book in time to review it before it was archived as I did not visit this site for several years after the bereavements. This meant I didn't read or venture onto netgalley for years as not only did it remind me of that person as they shared my passion for reading, but I also struggled to maintain interest in anything due to overwhelming depression. I was therefore unable to download this title in time and so I couldn't give a review as it wasn't successfully acquired before it was archived. The second issue that has happened with some of my other books is that I had them downloaded to one particular device and said device is now defunct, so I have no access to those books anymore, sadly.

This means I can't leave an accurate reflection of my feelings towards the book as I am unable to read it now and so I am leaving a message of explanation instead. I am now back to reading and reviewing full time as once considerable time had passed I have found that books have been helping me significantly in terms of my mindset and mental health - this was after having no interest in anything for quite a number of years after the passings. Anything requested and approved will be read and a review written and posted to Amazon (where I am a Hall of Famer & Top Reviewer), Goodreads (where I have several thousand friends and the same amount who follow my reviews) and Waterstones (or Barnes & Noble if the publisher is American based). Thank you for the opportunity and apologies for the inconvenience.

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I am so excited to share with you ‘Ella May Does It Her Way’ by Mick Jackson and illustrated by Andrea Stegmaier. (@sinulee)
Ella May is a girl who is 100% true to herself. We all loved this story and the spunky main character. Two of my kids could very specifically relate to Ella May 😉. And I loved that her mom was so supportive and accepting. ❤️
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This super cute book is being released next week! Look for it June 18, 2019.
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We received this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
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We love that this book encourages:
• Being true to yourself
• Trying new things
• Not following the crowd

I received an arc of this title from NetGalley for an honest review. I liked how this young girl does something her own way, against how everyone else does it, and then some people start to do it her way too. Lots of gurl power there.

I received a free ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I liked the pictures in the book. The idea is cute. I'm not sure I love the book, but it was entertaining enough. 3.5

Ella May Does It Her Way is an adorable picture book about a young girl that isn't afraid to be 100% who she is.

You meet young Ella May as she is being told by her mother to give a new food a try. Ella May takes this message fully to heart and decides to try doing lots of things in a new..... backward... way.

At first, Ella May's backward adventure takes some serious getting used to. But eventually, Ella May makes some "Ella May" adjustments and finds that living life backward is nothing short of an extraordinary adventure.

Young readers will laugh along as the watch Ella May apply her backward approach to everything throughout the day. They will find her ideas silly and fun.

Parents will love how Ella May's passion to be herself reigns true throughout the entirety of this new picture book. Our children absolutely need to see fun stories about characters that excel at just being themselves, and Ella May is exactly that type of character.

Ella May is a young girl who likes things her way, she also enjoys being different. One day she decides that she wants to do things backward. It is not always easy (going up the stairs) and it changes things (reading a book backwards) but she keeps at it. When she is successful at doing several things backwards, her mother decides she will try it as well. As more people see them walking backwards, they join in. After awhile, Ella May decides it is time to try something new and different.

This is a cute book about trying new things, being different and original and using your imagination to have fun. Ella May is a very independent young lady who does not give up when she wants to try something new. The illustrations were cute, colourful and just a bit quirky. They fit well with the story. I like the message of trying new things and not giving up too easily if they are hard. Allowing others to join in and do the same things is all right, which is another good thing to learn. I read this to my grandchildren and besides the fact that they thought it was funny doing things backward, they really did not interact with this story at all. Perhaps it is geared to children a bit older, such as primary school children. The publisher generously provided me with a copy of this book upon request. The rating, idea and opinions shared are my own.

I received an Advanced Reader Copy from Quarto Publishing Group - words & pictures and NetGalley for my unbiased opinion of the book. This book is about Ella May doing things her way. One day her mother suggested to try new things. So, Ella May started walking backwards all the time much to mother’s dismay. I won’t ruin the end for you! I loved the story, illustrations, and graphics! I loved the book and will be giving out as gifts!

How often do parents say it to their kids: how do you know you don't like it unless you try it/ SO it just makes sense to ask what it would look like to extend that out to other experiences. How will Ella May know if she likes walking backwards unless she tries it. The reader learns the value of unique perspectives, not to simply dismiss a thing as 'weird". Cute.

Ella May Does It Her Way is a cute book about coming up with a new idea and committing to it... that is until an even newer idea comes along. Ella May decides to do everything backwards, but when the whole town joins in will Ella May continue? Read this precious book about a girl who dares to be different.

I thought that this book was excellent and I loved reading it to my daughter, she is just like Ella May and loved to try things that are different and out of the norm and I will always encourage her to do so. The book had some lovely images and I thought it all had a lovely flow to it. It is 5 stars from us!

This is a sweet little book that has great illustrations throughout. A nice exploration of Ella May being who she wants to be!

This is a very cute book about a little girl who likes doing things as she pleases, including finding creative solutions in order to do so. It starts with her mum encouraging her to try a new food and ends with the whole town walking backwards. I enjoyed the cute message and the asides from Ella May's mum's perspective. I very much enjoyed the artwork.

There are so many things to love about this book. The illustrations are lovely and the story is a great read. Trying new things and doing things in new and creative ways are encouraged in this text and finally a book that shows a girl/family of Color that shows their "everydayness" rather than trying to exploit trauma. Bravo! I know I will put this book on my shelf.

This book has a perfect message for kids and adults alike: never be afraid to try something new.

Ella May likes to do things her own way (she likes dinosaurs and bugs, for example) and wants to try new things. What's a gal to do? She walks backwards, of course! She tries everything backwards, but when the town starts to follow along, she's not sure she's unique enough anymore.

The illustrations are very cute and there's a great message here: be yourself and don't always follow the crowd. But after a while I just wished Ella would try something else other than doing things backwards. But perhaps that's the focus of this book and the series will show her trying other things. Overall, I'd definitely recommend this book to others.

Thank you for NetGalley for providing this copy for review.

I loved this book! What a lovely story, my 3 year old son loved it. He giggled and wanted to walk backwards too. We, like Ella's mum are always trying to encourage trying new things so this was a perfect book for us! Beautifully illustrated too.
I hope there is a series of these books so that we can purchase for my son!

Ella May Does It Her Way is a picturebook written by Mick Jackson and illustrated by Andrea Stegmaier. Meet Ella May, the girl who likes to do things her way. In the first of this brilliant new series all about an imaginative, strong-willed girl character with her own ideas, Ella May tries walking backward, just to see how it feels. In her bedroom she tries reading her books backward, and after dinner she goes backward up to the bathroom and climbs backward into bed. When Ella goes backward up the slide and backward over the castle, Ella’s mum decides to turn around and walk backward next to Ella, to make it easier for them to talk. Pretty soon, half the town is walking backward in a giant, backward-walking procession. Where will it end?

Ella May Does It Her Way is a fun story about a smart young lady told that it is good to try new things, but then takes it up a notch. I like that it all starts will Ella May trying a new food, that she rather likes, so starts trying walking backwards to see if she likes that as well. I like that Ella May works out ways to try her new way of walking safely, her creativity and inventiveness made me smile. I have to admit that as soon as everyone else started walking backwards too I new it was going to stop- because I have a spunky daughter of my own that would stop something at the same point as Ella May. I really enjoy that she continues to try new things, and encourages her mother (and everyone else) to keep trying new things too. I thought the art work was very well done, and added a great deal to the story. THe little details and colors kept the eyes moving and the interest high throughout the read.

Ella May Does It Her Way is a great read for storytimes, sharing one on one, and emerging readers to read on their own. The story is fun and relatable- and offers the encouragement to all readers to keep trying new things.

This is a story about Ella May, who, as the title suggests, likes doing things her way. After her mother tells her she needs to walk forward, Ella May decides to walk backwards. And then everyone starts walking backwards. And then Ella stops walking backwards because everyone else is walking backwards. I liked the art work but I thought the story only reinforced the idea that Ella May was just being oppositional.

Great concept, but didn't really work. It focused on Ella May doing one thing different: walking backwards. At the end, she is "made" to change her way of doing things.

'Ella May Does It Her Way' with words and pictures by Mick Jackson is about a little girl determined to do things her way in a world that would tell her otherwise.

Ella May is particular about what she likes (insects, but not beetles). One night, her mother tries to get her to eat something different and Ella May balks at the idea, until her mother tells her it's good to try new things. Inspired by this thought, Ella May starts doing things very differently. Will her mother be able to get her to stop Ella May and her ways?

I really liked this story and the pictures. Ella May's cone shaped hair fits her precocious nature. The moral of the story is pretty clear. I wonder if young readers will try to do things Ella May's way though. It's a fun read.

I received a review copy of this ebook from Quarto Publishing Group - words and pictures, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.

This was just okay for me.
I like that message the author is trying to deliver...
Trying something new can be good and fun and help introduce other people to new things too!
I did feel like the whole "backwards" thing dragged on a bit.
The message would have worked better if Ella had tried a bunch of different things instead of just doing things backwards.
The illustrations are pretty cool (love Ella's hair!) and work well with the story.
Thank you NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group for my DRC.