River and The Tremendous Yellow Wellie Tutors by Emily Dreeling, with illustration by Miša Jovanovic

Thank you NetGalley and Author Emily Dreeling for providing an advanced reader’s copy of the eBook for review considerations. This review expresses my own personal opinion. I have not been asked to post it by the author, their publishing company, or anyone connected with the book or author.

 This is a children’s book, early to intermediate readers. 

This is the final chapter of River and the Tremendous Yellow Wellie trilogy. I’d rather use the word episode, for like a good Netflix or Apple TV+ series, you want more stories of River and her amazing friends the Wellies. For the benefit for my American friends, the Wellie, formally known as the Wellington boot, is a waterproof boot popularized by Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington. 

In this episode, her friends, the Wellies, step forward to help River not only overcome her fear of math, but also her struggle with self-confidence. I don’t know about you, but like many kids, I struggled with certain subjects, math was one of them, and as a kid when you are challenged with a subject that is hard for you to wrap your head around, you can easily fall into self-doubt, lack of confidence in yourself, and want to just give up, which is what happens to River. While kids may look to their parents for help, sometimes a parent can’t get on the level a child like River needs, that’s where good, true, and reliable friends come in. 

Dreeling hits another home run here in her wonderful storytelling. The messages are clear throughout the book, adversity will hit you, but faith in yourself can move mountains. Through the Wellies, she shows young readers and parents alike, that if we have good friends like the Wellies, are part of a community, a team, we are never alone. She communicates that friendship and courage are an awesome combination. 

As I have stated in other reviews of Ms. Dreeling’s work, the writing is superb, the stories are well crafted and engaging, and this one is no different. Your young reader, as well as yourself, will be drawn into a humorous, imaginative, and instructive way, into a story every kid needs to hear, which is to never give up on yourself, and true loyal friends will not give up on you. 

The book’s illustrations are done by Miša Jovanovic, who once again does not disappoint. He continues to portray the characters in realistic, bold and imaginative ways. As someone who used to sketch, I wish I had his talent.

I give this book a 5-star rating for the storyline, the positive messages and wonderful illustrations. Can’t wait to read more adventures of River and her friends. 

P.S. Living in the Midwest, I have a pair of Wellies that have been with me for over 30 years and I just bought a new pair. They will get along nicely and and I know the new addition will be just as a good a friend as my current pair, just like River’s Wellies are to her. :-)