Great read for both parent and kids 8+ to discuss over some topics, primarily self awareness and confidence building. Would recommend. I didn't think I'd be reading a book like this as a parent, but I am glad I did. It goes over several topics that we should be teaching children sooner than later. Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book as an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

The book is written to be read by 8-12 year olds to teach them the life skills. While I find social-emotional learning very important, this is something that is being covered at my son's school. The first seven chapters (out of 18) I would say focus more on how to be a good human, whereas I consider "life skills" more things you need to know how to do to live on your own. Some of these things do get covered, but I guess I expected more of the book to be a "how to" guide.
I do like a lot that it is written in easily understandable and concise chapters and task steps. I feel like I could give the book to my 10 year old, have him read it on his own, and that he would be able to try new things, sometimes needing to ask a grownup some follow-up questions or get assistance.

Thank you to INSPIRELAND, the author and NetGalley for a DRC in return for an honest review

I've just read the introduction and it sounds like this is going to be a very comprehensive guide, but the book is aimed at 8-12 year olds and I'm worried it might be a bit convoluted and full on for that age range. Also this book is very Americanised, which will be a big drawback in trying to appeal to a British market. For instance, 'Hey Buddy' is not really a British way of greeting a child!

I feel that this book will do well in America but I see the language and structure creating a slight disconnect for UK readers and delivery really matters when engaging 8–12 year olds. If the tone feels off or unnatural for a British child, it could make the material feel less accessible or relatable, even if the content is solid.

I will keep reading to see if my opinion changes.

#LifeSkillsForKids #NetGalley

This was a fab book with so many great life skills lessons. My son and I have been delving in and out of it for weeks, it’s not one you have to read cover to cover, it’s a great reference book for kids around the ages of 8-14 would be my personal view on the skill levels for most of the lessons.

Thank you NetGalley and INSPIRELAND for this eCopy to review

The Ultimate Kids' Guide to Life Skills is everything I want in a children’s nonfiction book—practical, empowering, and joyfully engaging. From emotional intelligence to money smarts, this guide is a treasure trove of wisdom for kids aged 8 to 12, and honestly, I wish I’d had it growing up. It’s a book about confidence, resilience, and giving kids the tools they need to thrive in a fast-changing world.

🧠 Plot Summary
This isn’t your average “how-to” book. Grace Ann Grow has created a vibrant, interactive guide packed with over 101 life skills that every child should know. From managing emotions and making friends to understanding money, solving problems, and even caring for the environment, each chapter is designed to be both educational and fun.

The book is filled with real-life examples, hands-on activities, and reflection prompts that help kids apply what they learn. Whether it’s learning how to handle peer pressure, set goals, or build healthy habits, the tone is always encouraging and age-appropriate.

🌟 What Worked

Empowerment Through Knowledge: The book doesn’t talk down to kids—it lifts them up. It teaches them how to think, not just what to do.
Emotional Intelligence: I loved the focus on self-awareness, empathy, and emotional regulation. These are skills that will serve kids for life.
Interactive Format: The exercises and journaling prompts make this a book kids can return to again and again.
Modern Relevance: Topics like digital safety, environmental responsibility, and mental health are handled with care and clarity.
Parent-Friendly: It’s a great resource for families to read together, sparking important conversations at home.

🧾 Final Thoughts
The Ultimate Kids' Guide to Life Skills is a must-have for every home, classroom, and library. It’s a toolkit for raising confident, capable, and compassionate kids. Grace Ann Grow has created something truly special, accessible, inspiring, and deeply impactful.

If you’re looking for a gift that will keep on giving, this is it.

Every parent needs this book! "The Ultimate Kids' Guide to Life Skills" by Grace Ann Grow is an excellent resource that can really help their children reach their full potential and create a brighter future! This amazing book offers a guide to self help. The chapters cover everything from recognizing their emotions to hands-on activities to help them understand what it all means!
If you have kids ages between the ages of seven to twelve I think this is ideal for any home or even in school. The whole process is fun and easy. A big thank you to Grace Ann Grow , Inspireland and NetGalley for the Advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Resourceful book but lacks definition. Verbiage could be better. The book intention is quite strong but doesn't come clearly through the suggestions given

This book was really cute. I viewed it from the perspective of a parent of pre teens and a OT. 18 chapters that are thought out to cover topics such as financial literacy, digital safety, social skills, education, etc for 8-12 year olds. This book could be adapted into curriculum to strengthen lessons on such topics or pieces pulled for therapy. What I appreciate the most about it is how it thinks to cover things as adults we don’t consider. It brings the awareness back to topics that either our parents never considered teaching us or we picked up slowly as we aged. Thank you so much for allowing me to preview this book!

The ultimate kids guide to life skills is a wonderful resource and one we really need in current times to safeguard the mental health and wellbeing of our amazing young people!

Grace writes beautifully to ensure the content is accessible for children 8ish to read independently or have read to them.

The content is extensive and covers topics including finding your inner compass (getting to know and like yourself), emotional intelligence, social skills, diversity, problem solving, navigating bullying, health & safety (including digital/online safety) and many, many more vital skills.

I love the strategies given, and the examples given to really make them meaningful.

This is a lovely book to either read in whole or dip in and out of.

I applaud the author for producing such a wonderful and inspirational piece of work.

My thanks to NetGalley, author and publisher for the opportunity to review this book in exchange for an advance copy.

The ultimate kids guide to life skills: 101+ practical tools for unlocking potential and broadening children's horizons for a brighter future by Grace Ann Grow is a fabulous book that each parent and teacher should have.

The chapters discuss important topics such as: discovering self-awareness, emotional intelligence journey, the art of social skills, valuing diversity, mastering problem solving, overcoming bullying, secrets of self discipline, mastering home responsibilities, secrets of a healthy lifestyle, basics of safety and emergency, journey through the world of technology, secrets of successful learning, basics of financial literacy, basics of survival and exploring nature, understanding environmental responsibility, contributing to society and the world, and your path to continuous self improvement.

The book targets children ages 8-12 and is written for them as well. It would be great to use in a classroom or to read with your kid at home. It also includes how to recognize the emotion, tips and tricks on how to handle it/work through it and some hands on activities.

Thank you Grace Ann Grow for partnering with NetGalley. I received an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion and review.

As a parent and Teacher I really enjoyed this book. It’s focused on helping children become self aware of the emotions and thought processes so they can understand why their actions and words matter and how important it is to think through our decisions before acting.

Kids learn that self improvement and self discovery is a lifelong commitment and that it’s important to understand ourselves from an early age.

The topics are broken down into easily digestible sections and can easily be adaptable to the child’s age and understanding.

I’ve used it with my kids and was rewarded by how much work they put into the discussions. I highly recommend it.

I loved the first half of this book. I found it to be a great source of socioemotional depth for elementary-age children and I love the life skills it teaches. I even thought it would be great for adults who need an "adultier adult". As I got to the 50% part, the writing didn't feel as strong, and the verbiage felt off. It sounded like it was written sloppily or unedited.

One paragraph read: "There is something very important about safety that you need to know. That important thing is about staying safe wherever you go. But why is that important? It will help you enjoy your play without getting injured." This word salad continues throughout the book.

As an educator concerned about the literacy rates in our country, I feel that we would be doing a disservice to hand this nonsense to kids. Should you pick sections that would benefit your child's needs? Sure. There are great sessions on doing chores, making friends, and staying calm when we feel angry. However, I worry that this book's writing is no better than a random Youtube video that could be posted by anybody. I don't know that the author is credible.

I really like this book. Great advice. Good organization. Extremely helpful topics. Will add to my personal library as well.