I picked this up on a whim and I love it! Its so cute and its such a great message for kids with amazing pictures!
I gave it to my brother to read and he also loves it!!
Get this for yourself or a kid:)

Really like this book and think that it can really help instill in girls that they can do anything if they only say "When I"M....."

A cute book that reminds me of a dream almost every child has had someday. Every page begins with 'When I'm a Surgeon' and continues to reveal what the little girl imagines as a part of her future life. The illustrations were completely on point and I had nostalgic moments as I remembered playing doctor-doctor with my soft toys. Apart from being relatable and simple, it also gives children a reason to take up this noble profession. I think kids and parents will enjoy reading, and rereading this book.

Really liked the book and the message, but the art sad to say really creeped me out - the characters felt lifeless. That said I applaud this book for the author's message and persistence.

Very cute book with fun illustrations. The book is aimed toward a younger audience with easy to read sentences. It highlights a little girl who has the dream to become a surgeon and everything she wants to do when she is one. Ranging from traveling, public speaking, helping others, learning, having a family, and so much more. Great book to help show kids that you can do anything, and how much you can do within your life and dreams you have as well.

I think it would be great to do a series of books about professions that kids don't hear about as often to introduce them to them. After all, we can't all be veterinarians! In addition, it's nice to encourage girls to have a family while still achieving academic and professional goals.

My two year old son loved this book. As a parent that wants the best for my child I appreciate the concept of introducing great career options to get him thinking about from the very start. I love that this book is specifically about being a surgeon and not just a generic doctor.

The illustrations aren't my personal favorite style but they were cute enough and my son found them very engaging which is what really matters.

The true test of a book for my toddler is if the messaging is good and if my toddler wants to reread it often. This story passed both tests with flying colors. My son made me reread this to him six times in a row. I call that a success.

Five stars.

This was an adorable book, written by Samantha Pillay, who actually is a surgeon, and illustrated charmingly by Harry Aveira, but it's more than just about being a surgeon, which might have made for a slightly tedious read! The book is really about becoming a better person all around: about love, kindness, thoughtfulness, empathy, ambition, dedication and a host of other traits.

The story repeats a phrase on each new page and adds something to it that was different from what went before - in a sense like an affirmation, and the sweet illustrations show a warm picture of what that affirmation translates to - even in a small and child-like manner. The book is wonderful, inspiring, and very positive and should encourage young girls everywhere to, as the phrase has it, be all they can be - in whatever life they choose for themselves. I unreservedly commend it.

When I'm a Surgeon by Dr. Samantha Pillay is a beautifully illustrated book about the opportunities that could arise if a young reader were aspiring to become a surgeon. It started off with relevant material and then I felt it got a little more personal about the author towards the end. I think it should have been a bit more clear at the beginning of the book that it was specifically about Dr. Samantha Pillay.

I wasn't a fan of the page about correlating becoming a surgeon making someone a wonderful mother. Another page that felt too personal to the author was the page about becoming a surgeon and writing a children's book about it but kudos to the surgeon/author for becoming both. It truly is inspirational.

I'm a big fan of inspiring children to have medical aspirations and I would recommend this one for young readers. Thank you to Net Galley for the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I received an electronic copy from Samantha Pillay through NetGalley.
This young girl dreams big in all ways. She shares her career plan with readers and offers them a look at what being a surgeon will involve. We see how she plays and plans in the present and dreams for the future. Her dreams span a variety of careers wrapped around being a surgeon. I love that she already understands she also will have a life beyond her career.

Thank you NetGalley and the author for a copy of "When I'm a Surgeon" in exchange for an honest review.

The main points that this book teaches children is that they should dream big and aim high. The graphics are brilliant and colourful. A young girl dreams of all the things she will do as a doctor. She wants to stitch people better, work with robots, deal with emergencies, care for community, train and teach others, make good decisions, always be learning, make scientific discoveries, travel the world, be a great public speaker, manage a business, be an inspirational leader, be a wonderful mother and write children's books.

This is a great conversation start with children - asking them what they would like to be when they grow up and what they might be able to do in that career.

I adored this book! The illustrations are incredible and I love how every pages smashes through gender inequalities. I was proud to share this one with my daughter and I hope the author creates more like it!

This is a wonderful book showing all the things the young girl is going to do when she becomes a surgeon. My favorite is “When I’m a surgeon, I’ll be an inspirational leader.” It shows that many different hats are worn as a surgeon.

The author speaks from her own experience as a urological surgeon. She overcame many hardships as a young child and novice surgeon. Her enthusiastic nature comes out in this book. I love that the sentences are simple and easy to read but convey such a profound message.

The illustrations are wonderful. The characters are cute with big eyes. The backgrounds are full and colorful.


I received an ARC from Samantha Pillay through NetGalley. This in no way affects my opinion or rating of this book. I am voluntarily submitting this review and am under no obligation to do so.

When I'm a Surgeon by Samantha Pillay is a great book for beginning readers. Children may need help with some of the bigger words. However the layout of the text will not give younger readers what I call reading anxiety with the amount of text on a page. Be sure to checkout the free coloring pages, resources, and, read-along video. The information can be found in front of the book. Pillay will start a series of this type of books.

When I'm a Surgeon Dreaming is Believing: Doctor by Samantha Pillay is an entertaining book that encourages kids to follow their dreams and also provides interesting facts about what a surgeon does. The illustrations are colorful and enjoyable to look at. I also like that the main character is female. So often, the idea of a surgeon is a man. In this story, our future surgeon is an adorable little girl with brown pigtails. This book would be great for preschool or even early elementary.

I just reviewed When I'm a Surgeon by Samantha Pillay. #whenimasurgeon #NetGalley

This is such a wonderful and inspiring children's book. Medicine and surgery especially are such a male dominated professions so I thought it was wonderful to have a little girl as the main character of this book. I loved that the book started off focusing on the things most people would associate with a career in medicine but also touches on many other roles and characteristics of a medical professional such as being a leader in the community. My favourite part is the title "when I'M a surgeon", this is a determined little girl who's not dreaming of being a surgeon but rather knows she will be. "Dream big, aim high" - When I'm a Surgeon.

A special thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.

Dream and dream big.
I like it. The story is simple, to the point and with beautiful illustrations.

One thing I didn't get. How choosing an apple over a cupcake is considered "making good decisions"!! Kids love sweets so we can't shaming them for that choice.

This is a delightful book that will inspire kids to dream and to believe that their dream can come true. It is part of: Inspirational Careers for Kids ( book 1 ). A little girl aspires to be a surgeon. The book highlights different elements of a surgeon's career that is understandable to kids and extremely interesting. Kids can raise money for charity and engage in imaginative play. The book shows that even young kids can care for others.

The after-hour surgeon can travel the world, do public speaking and train others in the profession. Girls are not exempt from becoming exemplary mothers too! The message of the book is positive and is a call to action to set goals and follow through until they are successfully completed.

"Dr. Samantha Pillay, surgeon and role-model, is no stranger to overcoming adversity. She finished school at age sixteen, after starting school in a wheelchair. She believes 'once children have a vision and believe I their goals-anything is possible.' A must-read for the next generation of leaders." I highly recommend "When I'm a Surgeon."

Seeing greatness in our children is the big and having our children seeing the greatness of caring for others is a gift that keeps giving. The illustrations of a little girl great aspirations of being a surgeon and how it will affect those around her will have your child seeing great things. Thinking about others and giving to others. Books like this is a ideal in starting conversations. It brings confidence and compassion. A confidence that gives to others and a compassion that acts.

A special thank you to Netgalley and the Author for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.

Written simply, with a very positive and informative message, this book walks through responsibilities and strengths of a modern surgeon; business owner, public speaker, trainer, community leader, etc.

It is also careful to point out possibilities, such as being good at all of these things plus being a good parent (mother).

The purpose is clearly empowerment, and although I don't plan to go into that field, I have some of the skills mentioned (or am working on them), and I felt uplifted and encouraged.

This book would be a great gift for anyone who values the education of girls, higher education, and continuing education. Any formal location where children have a few minutes to fill, would be ideal for this book.

Illustrator, Harry Aveira, gives the book a clean and pleasant atmosphere. But the little gray cat won me over! (It's especially adorable.)

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the preview of this forward-thinking ebook!

5/5 Stars!

#WhenImASurgeon #NetGalley