At first glance, Not Everyone Walks the Stage looks like a simple children’s book about a girl named Sophia starting kindergarten, learning new things, dealing with tough moments, and preparing for graduation. But as the book unfolds, it becomes clear that there’s much more going on beneath the surface. We watch Sophia grow in confidence, navigate her struggles with school and classmates, and ultimately find her own strength. Then comes the twist: Sophia uses a wheelchair. That reveal adds a whole new layer to the story and makes the title resonate in a deeply personal way.

I found the storytelling refreshingly gentle yet brave. The authors let their message simmer quietly until you’re hit with it, and it stays with you. The writing is warm and simple in the best way. It invites kids in, and leaves space for adults to reflect too. I liked how real Sophia felt. She wasn’t a “perfect” kid. She was nervous, unsure, and sometimes afraid. But she worked through it. She learned. She helped. And she tried, even when she didn’t feel ready. That made her journey feel authentic and meaningful.

The book is also clever. It uses familiar moments like the nervous excitement of the first day of school or the build-up to a graduation ceremony to introduce bigger ideas about kindness, disability, and perseverance. I especially liked how it never made Sophia’s wheelchair the center of her identity. The reveal is subtle, and by the time it arrives, you already love her for who she is, not what she uses to get around. The bonus content at the end, including the author’s own story and Q&A, adds a lot of heart and insight. Every page is bursting with color and emotion, like a comic book. The characters’ faces are so expressive that you can tell what they’re feeling. The background is packed with fun little details too.

I’d recommend Not Everyone Walks the Stage to parents, teachers, and really anyone looking for a book that’s thoughtful, inclusive, and quietly powerful. It’s perfect for classrooms and storytimes, and it’s a wonderful way to talk with kids about differences, empathy, and determination. It reminded me that the bravest stories are sometimes the ones that start quietly and end with a cheer.

Pages: 55 | ASIN : B0DVLH26YH