Cody Burke’s children’s book, Take Me Back to Oklahoma, is about a boy named Thomas who is completely over his home state. He’s itching to hit the road and see the “real” excitement out in the big cities, beaches, and mountains. Along the way, though, he realizes all these picture-perfect places come with their own set of problems—rude people, loud noises, sunburns, bear worries, and sand in awkward places. Eventually, he starts to miss the simple, comforting things about Oklahoma: the animals, the music, the wind, the people. By the end, he wants nothing more than to go back home to where his heart actually belongs.

I really liked how this children’s book flipped the script. At first, it’s all about how boring Oklahoma is, and I was kind of nodding along with the kid—like, yeah, I get it. But then, as he hits all these hyped-up destinations and slowly starts missing the quiet beauty of home, and it hit me right in the feels. The writing is simple but smart. It feels like it was written by someone who really gets kids and also remembers what it’s like to be one. There’s humor (that bit about Oklahoma history being just “blah blah blah” made me laugh), and there’s heart, too.

The illustrations by Camilla Crittenden are super charming. They are bold and colorful, but not overly polished. They’ve got that hand-drawn warmth that fits the tone of the story perfectly. But what really made this book stand out to me was how sneakily deep it is. It’s not just about a road trip. It’s about belonging, and how sometimes we need to step away to really appreciate what we’ve got. The way it ties up at the end, with the love for Oklahoma coming full circle, felt really genuine and sweet.

I’d totally recommend this book to kids who are 5 to 9 years old, especially if they’ve ever rolled their eyes at their hometown. It’s also great for parents who want to spark conversations about gratitude, home, and pride in where you’re from. Perfect for a bedtime read or even a classroom discussion. This one gave me the warm fuzzies.

Pages: 48 | ISBN : 1960810928