I thought this was a cute book to read to my child. He’s not quite old enough to understand exactly what the book was about but the message and the meaning I gathered was amazing. I do plan to read it to him again in a few months to see if he can tell me if he understood any of it and what he got from it. As an adult you know how supportive we can be to and for our children especially during changes in life. So to read about a young African American girl facing change and getting the love and support that she deserved was refreshing.

This heartwarming tale follows the life of Jade, a bright-eyed African American girl, as she embarks on the incredible journey of growing up. From the early days of potty training to the excitement of starting Kindergarten, Jade's experiences are relatable and endearing. The real magic of this book, however, lies in the way it handles Jade's transformation during early adolescence.

Wow, Something's Changed In Me is a delightful journey through the life of Jade, a spunky little girl who's growing up right before our eyes! This book is not just a story; it's a celebration of family, love, and the incredible journey of childhood.

What sets this book apart is the mysterious transformation Jade goes through during early adolescence. I won't give it away, but let me tell you, it's a twist you won't see coming! The way the author handles the topic is both sensitive and empowering, showing kids that change is a part of life, and it's okay to embrace it with the support of your loved ones. The illustrations are colorful and engaging, making it a perfect a great read aloud book for young kids.

I loved the amount of support Jade has, but I felt like the book was a bit rushed. I wanted to know more about Jade and her family. I know this I S a book meant for kids but it felt too childish for pre adolescents but also too grown up to smaller kids. At the same time, the images felt really off. They were cute at the beginning but later on they got weird like it was a collage of little pictures. This all made me wonder if the images weren't AI generated because I couldn't find the credited author for those.
Overall the book aims to transmit a good message about family support, but lacks deepness and a correctly set target age. The images weren't the best

It is easy enough to understand the kind of role model and messaging that this book is trying to give African-American families, and I do appreciate that. The illustrations are adorable, and the messages are important.

We accompany Jade on her experience of growing up, from her birth to adolescence. Throughout, her grandparents and her parents remain strong and positive influences in her life, helping her to negotiate each stage of this journey.

What did not work for me was the lack of any appreciable storyline. What is presented here is a simple chronology with a few milestones along the way (speaking of which, I did wonder if Jade's mother should perhaps have prepared her for her period).

For example, I think that the messages could have been delivered more effectively by presenting Jade with some challenges that her older family members could have helped her to negotiate, thereby *showing* rather than telling us that family is important.

I also think this could perhaps be more sensitive to the very many children in blended families or with ones with an important family member absent (for whatever reason - death, abandonment, incarceration, addiction), by showing the role of the community and/or close family friends in the raising of a child. That would not take away from the message about the importance of family but reinforce the fact that it "takes a village".