A beautiful and inspiring read for girls and boys. It has central themes about conquering fears and believing in yourself, but also about the joy of reading and what it brings to you.
For adults, it offers an entrypoint into talking about these topics as well as school and friend situations and Black history.

This book is adorable and great for readers starting on their chapter-book adventure. It is simply written and has a lovely story. It has a nice message. There are not many books out there for youth about overcoming public speaking fears. It might not be the choice of every early reader, but it is a promising read for some. This book is obviously written with the children who will read it in mind.

This was a cute book about conquering your fears, believing in yourself, and uplifting yourself and others. There were such great themes and my son, who is 7, enjoyed the story too. I would recommend it for any young child who is starting to branch out on their own and needs that encouragement, or has a friend who needs it.

I would like to thank the publisher, author and Netgalley for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.

"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."
As a 39 year old woman who keeps misprouncing pneumonia, I appreciate this book.

It is a story of empowerment via reading the words of the woman who paved the way. I loved it.

It was a nice book but my niece didn't really love it when I read it to her. I liked the way it supports kids try and win their fears and anxieties though.

Book Title : The Whole World Opened Up
Author (s): Laylah and Shannon Richmond
Book Format : Digital eBook received from the Publisher via NetGalley
Type of Literary Work: Fiction, Children's book
Number of Pages : 64
Publisher : Two Pigeons Press
Rating : 3.75 🌟 out of 5 on The StoryGraph
Art and Illustrations : It was fine.

Initial Impressions
I picked up the book because of its title and blurb which was very promising.

Review
When it comes to fostering a love for reading in children, especially those who are learning to read or developing a passion for it, the choice of books is crucial. The books you select can either enhance or hinder the progress they have made so far. Therefore, it is important to choose books that are relatable to them and align with their personalities. One such book that fits this criteria is "The Whole World Opened Up" by Laylah and Shannon Richmond.

"The Whole World Opened Up" takes us into the life of Laylah, a third-grade aspiring writer who adores her grandma, her best friend Ria, Legos, and books. It comes as no surprise when Laylah's grandmother tells her about a reading contest that she can participate in. This contest not only helps Laylah build her vocabulary and confidence but also offers the opportunity to earn some cash. Excited about the prospect, Laylah agrees to enter the contest on one condition - that Ria joins as well, with grandma supporting them from the crowd.

However, on the day of the contest, grandma unexpectedly has to back out of their agreement. This leaves Laylah and Ria facing their fears and uncertainties alone. Will they be able to overcome these challenges and emerge victorious? To find out what happens in the end and discover more about their journey through the "Black Girls Read Got Cash and Glory" contest, you'll have to join Laylah on her adventure.

SN : I wish the authors could have taken more time to work in the characters and their development. A lot of details about the characters were pushed aside to make room for history and facts. Although that isn't a bad thing to do, it takes out the pleasure of reading the book and makes the book less enjoyable. This book would have passed as an easy 4 or 4.5 stars, if the storyline and characters had been more developed.
Thank you NetGalley, Two Pigeons Press, Laylah and Shannon Richmond for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book was so adorable, I loved everything about it, the illustrations were so well done, they suited the book perfectly, the story was amazing as well, even thought is very short I could really connect with the characters and feel theirs struggles.
I’m sure the kids are going to be just as enthralled with this amazing book as I was.
I will definitely recommend!

Thank you netgalley and the publisher for this early copy

Thanks to an ARC from NetGalley. What a wonderful book about the love of reading, even more surprising a children’s book based about the young author Laylah Richmond (who is a high school sophomore) and her grandmother. An inspiring read and love that this young women have been given an opportunity to publish a book!

When Laylah’s grandmother encourages her to participate in a reading contest, her family and best friend rally by her side. As the competition draws near, the third grader isn’t without anxiety, but perseveres. What follows is a broader understanding of Laylah’s sense of self, her community, and the world around her.

With an intelligent cast of characters ranging from relatable to uplifting, Laylah and Sharon Richmond have teamed up to present strong themes of family, the importance of education, and determination. The Whole World Opened Up is an early-level chapter book filled with charm and purpose, sure to bring a smile to every reader.

Thank you to NetGalley and Two Pigeons Press for this copy in exchange for an honest review.

The Whole World Opened Up is an adorable early-level chapter book that focuses on children believing in themselves and working to achieve their dreams. This book, written by Laylah and Sharon Richmond, has beautiful illustrations that break up the text and add a visual element to the story. I really enjoyed that this book talked about racial inequality from the perspective of a child learning about it while also focusing on public speaking and trying new things. This would be a great book for any student who fears public speaking or has trouble reading in front of others.

I’m really struggling with this book - the concept seems great but the writing seems incomplete or even childish. I would love to share the book with children but feel the writing would be off putting.

Young readers will relate to the main character of this beginning chapter book. When Laylah's beloved grandmother suggests she and her best friend, Ria, enter a reading where the contestants read speeches of famous African American women. Laylah is nervous but does not want to disappoint her grandmother. She agrees to do it if her grandmother will attend the event with her. On the day, grandmother cannot make it because of a good reason. Laylah finds new confidence standing before a group of strangers and reading her speech. The warm description of Laylah's homelife , her close relationship with her grandmother, and the brief biographies of African American women are bonuses to this simple but relatable story.

I would like to give a copy of this title to every young girl that I have ever tutored. It perfectly tells a story of how reading and taking chances can open worlds to kids. It even includes ideas about how to decode difficult words and Black history. At the same time, there is a nice story about a third grade girl and those around her; it shows how the love of family and friends truly matters. Oh, and the illustrations are very appealing. Finally, note the age of one of the authors!

This book would make a nice addition to home and family libraries. Many thanks to NetGalley and Two Pigeons Press for this title. All opinions are my own.

Thus is a wonderful book that would be a great addition to any older elementary classroom. This book has fun stories that offer diversity in their characters and give readers a fun look into different historical events. This book can be enjoyed by a wide audience, and has beautiful illustrations scattered throughout.

Thank you so much to Two Pigeons Press and Netgalley for the ebook to read and review.

Laylah’s grandma learns of a reading contest near them and encourages her granddaughter and her best friend Ria to enter, though nervous her family guide her with the strength and knowledge of what to do. Whilst within the contest she learns so much more.

This was so much more than I was expecting and it was really beautiful, I loved that this story was so educational, not only was it a sweet story of a girl entering a reading contest it was also a story of this same girl learning about African American history.

She chooses Josephine Baker as the piece of writing to read about and she didn’t know anything about her before that, but once she reads that piece she continues to learn and grow and realises there is so much strength and history from the people who came before her and that it encourages others to follow them.

This book is filled with wonderful messages, so much encouragement and helps lead a perfect path to learning more of African American history. It not only provides help with new ways to learn to read but also to have strength and to learn, grow. It’s a wonderful book for younger children to read.

I was able to read this book thanks to Net Galley.

I really loved the message of this book, and the way that it featured advice for overcoming fears of public speaking. I also liked the early reader chapter book format for kids who aren't quite ready for longer format books.

I do wish the book had better artwork and featured illustrations on more pages. Overall, I think this book is a solid read for early readers.

Layla and Sharon Richmond's The Whole World Opened Up is an inspirational story about two young girls who enter a reading contest and overcome their fears. Grandma Irene's encouragement and words of wisdom, along with Josephine Baker's iconic March on Washington speech, will touch readers of all ages and maybe even embolden some more timid students to find their voices.