Riley Finds His Beat is a rhyming picture book about a little boy trying to find his rhythm. He gets great life lessons along the way and leans on his family to help him find his beat. Great, fun picture book! Perfect for 3-7 yrs old.

I received an ebook ARC from Netgalley and do not get paid for my reviews.

This is a 20-page children's book about a young boy going through the frustration of trying to learn how to play his first musical instrument - the drums! His mother reassures him and encourages him, with tales of how her father encouraged her. I would characterize this book as a life skills book, teaching perseverance and also introducing the idea of learning an instrument.

The book is written in rhyme, with 2 AABB stanzas per page. Each line of the stanzas is approximately 10 words, so the book would target a slightly older elementary reader, perhaps 2nd grade +. It has full page, full color images on every page. The story features all persons of color, with the kids sporting t-shirts with positive affirmations on them.

5-stars for a story about musical education, learning to deal with frustration, and featuring POC.
Pub date 8/28/23. 20 pages.

Thank you NetGalley, for providing an eARC for review consideration. All opinions expressed are my own.

#netgalley @netgalley

Riley works hard to get his rhythm right. It's a lovely book that shows a kid who works and successfully achieves his goal.

Riley Finds His Beat! A fantastic read.
Young Riley is always learning something new, being taught lessons by his loved ones with rhyme and grace. Davina Hamilton does it again with the NEW “Riley Finds His Beat”. He practices his drums every chance he gets, and Riley has a hard time finding his beat. That’s when Mummy shares her drumming story and how Grandad always had a saying; “Nothing will happen before it is time”. So he doesn’t give up and he continues to persevere, and one afternoon Riley finds his beat!

The Stories of Riley
These stories by Davina Hamilton are filled with positive learning experiences. Putting into practice essential affirmations and values in a format that makes it easier for children to comprehend. Having owned two previous Riley books; “Riley Knows He Can” and “Riley Can Be Anything“, I continue to be amazed by how good the stories get. Written in rhyme, these are just the coolest books to have at school, libraries, or at home. The Riley collection is inspiring and filled with much positivity, they will make any child’s day a better one.

Riley is a young boy eager to master his sleek, blue drum set. Despite his efforts, rhythm proves elusive as neither hand nor foot hits its mark when intended. Thankfully, his mother is close by and offers the same, supportive words her father shared when she was first learning to play. With her encouragement and patience as his example, Riley perseveres and continues to practice even when his efforts appear for naught. As the story progresses, Riley’s extended family adds motivation as they, too, ensure, “Nothing will happen before it’s time.”

Davina Hamilton is a wizard of poetry as her words and rhyme scheme light each page in equal measure to Elena Reinoso’s illustrations. Though I began the story wondering if I’d missed the initial pages, the lack of set up was less conspicuous as the narrative delved into the past of Riley’s mother. Though I wish the story would have ended in fulfillment of Riley’s grandfather listening to him play, the book’s message on perseverance and taking pride in accomplished goals remained strong. A perfect read for children eager to progress beyond their current capabilities, serving as a reminder that they shouldn’t give up.

Thank you to NetGalley and The Ella Riley Group for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Thanks NetGalley for the preview!

We loved this poetic book! It was catchy and had a great message. A wonderful book to read when your little one is learning a new skill. Especially if they’re struggling. The story was adorable and really emphasized grit and never giving up. We also loved the pictures and bright colors.

Riley Finds His Beat is a poetical story about patience and perseverance when learning a new skill. A great book for kids learning any skill, not just music! The story was charming and heartfelt, and I loved how the story showed Riley being frustrated and working it out several times rather than just once for narrative effect.

Thanks to the Ella Riley Group and Netgalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review!