Although Clara is at first reluctant to join in the weekly house cleaning, her dad's enthusiasm for the music that he plays while working draws her in. This book is a great way to introduce kids to the fun of doing chores together, as well as to a range of jazz and soul music with accompanying traditions, including mardi gras parades and a gumbo recipe. The playful text is fun to read aloud. I like how the text and illustrations reference specific songs that are included in a playlist at the end of the book.

Thank you to Netgalley and Free Spirit Publishing for providing an advance copy of this book.

So much fun! Appreciated how the knowledge of Black music and New Orleans' traditions are sprinkled in throughout the story. It's engaging and beautifully illustrated.

5/5⭐️ what parent hasn’t found a way to use music to get their children to clean or do something they didn’t want to do! I know I have! This book was beautifully written and definitely worth reading with your child to understand that cleaning can be fun!

I loved this book!! This story marries the importance of work (in the form of cleaning) and music that comes from the soul. I adored how this book showed progression through the main character. At first, she doesn't want to sing, dance, OR clean, but eventually she sees that both of them are needed, and can be *fun* when put together, and she really gets into it. This is great for young readers to see and apply to their own lives. Just like the main character's dad's groovy attitude is infectious, this book's lesson will be as well. I have no doubt that kids will finish this book and want to make their own music with their own chores. Something that really pushes this is the playlist in the back of the book. This was one of my favorite elements! It's a good playlist, first of all, and serves as a starting point for readers to find music that makes them want to dance with every bit of their soul. Lastly, the illustrations were so fun and peppy, making this book a purely joyful read.
Amazing book! Bravo!

Such a fun little time. I would definitely read this to children I was babysitting. I also appreciate the playlist and the gumbo recipe at the back

I never thought the act of cleaning the house could be so joyful!

Soulful Struttin’ is a new children’s picture book by Julia Pierre Hammond, gloriously illustrated by Ana Latese, that takes household chores and turns them into a joyful Sunday family tradition. Like Clara, the young protagonist, I never thought cleaning up could be such a playful experience and joyful only when behind us.

Clara’s father has two Sunday traditions:” singing and cleaning the house. While Clara (and probably every reader) thinks singing could be pretty sweet, she would heartily love to avoid the weekly cleanup. However, her playful, energetic, and upbeat father won’t even entertain doing otherwise. Soon, he has the entire family singing and swaying to his specially curated playlist of tunes to clean by. Time speeds by, and their home sparkles, as do everyone’s spirits.

The illustrations add to the absolute joy, with pictures that fairly dance off the page. As a bonus, the author includes the family’s perfect playlist for readers to recreate in their own music app and the recipe for Grandma Sentelia’s Gumbo. Get that gumbo simmering on the stove early in the day and relax with a ready and delicious meal after the chores are complete.

The plot reminds us all that chores go better with a positive attitude, compelling tunes, and the family working together as a team. Young readers will enjoy the fun story and vibrant illustrations, and everyone will have their favorite songs to add to the family’s musical playlist.

I recommend SOULFUL STRUTTIN’ to those with young readers and listeners.

This was such a fun children’s picture book that is full of soul! I love the illustrations and colors. I definitely recommend reading with your children/family.

Thank you Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book. These opinions are completely my own

I really loved this book. The story and illustrations are so lovely, you feel like your are in the home with them. The addition of the reflection questions, gumbo recipe and the play list are the cherries and whole cream.

This was a delightful read that could definitely brighten anyone's day. It was nice to read about a family with parents outside the conventional, and traditional, gender norms usually pushed in other books. Here the father was helping with the cleaning, and while the daughter helped with them as well the brother helped the mother in the garden. All around it subverts the idea of who should help with household duties/chores. On top of that there's something delightful in seeing this beautiful father-daughter relationship brought to life between the art and the musical writings. And it gets to be educational as well in the way that it teaches about different types of music as the cleaning progresses through the story.

From the very first page, this book was witty and cute. Made me smile right off the bat. Oh to be young and embarrassed by our parents. We all know the feeling. This story shows that initial feeling, but then a little more heart. This would be a great read for an independent reader or one on one.

‘Soulful Struttin’ by Julia Pierre Hammond is a rhythmic journey through self-expression and individuality. The book invites readers to join the main character on a dance-filled adventure, exploring the joy of movement and personal style. With a focus on celebrating one's unique rhythm and soul, the story aims to inspire confidence and self-love.

Plot: ★★★☆☆
The plot of ‘Soulful Struttin’ revolves around a character who embraces their individuality through dance. While the concept of self-expression through movement is engaging, the storyline itself can feel somewhat predictable and lacks a strong narrative arc. The book effectively conveys its message of celebrating uniqueness, but the plot could benefit from a bit more depth and development.

Character: ★★★☆☆
The main character in ‘Soulful Struttin’ is portrayed as confident and expressive, embodying the book's theme of self-celebration. However, the character development is relatively shallow, and there isn't much exploration of their background or motivations. While the character's enthusiasm for dance is apparent, more depth could enhance their relatability and connection with readers.

Illustrations: ★★★☆☆
The illustrations in ‘Soulful Struttin’ are vibrant and energetic, reflecting the book's focus on dance and movement. However, they occasionally lack detail and consistency, which can detract from the overall visual appeal. The artwork complements the story's themes but could benefit from more intricate and cohesive illustrations to fully capture the spirit of the narrative.

Engagement: ★★★☆☆
The book engages readers with its lively depiction of dance and self-expression. While the rhythmic elements and energetic scenes contribute to an engaging experience, the overall engagement could be enhanced with a more compelling storyline and deeper character exploration. The book's message is clear, but the execution may not fully captivate all readers.

Readability: ★★★☆☆
‘Soulful Struttin’ is generally readable, with a straightforward narrative and accessible language. However, the simplicity of the plot and character development may not provide enough substance to fully hold the reader's interest. The book's message is clear, but the overall readability could be improved with more engaging content and narrative depth.

Enjoyment: ★★★☆☆
Overall, ‘Soulful Struttin’ offers a fun and uplifting experience with its focus on dance and self-expression. While the book has its strengths in conveying a positive message, the lack of depth in the plot and character development may limit its appeal. Readers who enjoy stories about individuality and movement may find it enjoyable, but it may not resonate as strongly with those seeking a more substantial narrative.


‘Soulful Struttin’ by Julia Pierre Hammond presents a vibrant and energetic exploration of self-expression through dance. The book effectively communicates its message of celebrating individuality but could benefit from a more developed plot and deeper character exploration. The illustrations are lively, though occasionally lacking in detail. While the book offers an enjoyable and positive reading experience, it may not fully captivate all readers due to its simplicity in narrative and character development.

I thought that this was a wonderful book and it was a pleasure to read.

The writing style was great, it was well written and had a great flow to the story. I loved the messaging that the author got across through the story too and the characters of Clara and her dad were wonderful. I loved their interaction.

The illustrations in the book are lovely and they work so well with the story and are a big part of bringing it all to life - they really are very well done.

It is 5 stars from me for this one - very highly recommended!

I was thoroughly impressed with this book! The illustrations were captivating, and the message of creating joyful family memories, celebrating culture, and turning cleaning into a fun experience for everyone was both uplifting and inspiring.

Soulful Struttin’ is a heartwarming, rhythmic celebration of family, music, and culture. This charming story follows Clara and her father as they transform a mundane afternoon of house cleaning into a lively, musical parade inspired by the rich sounds of New Orleans. Reluctant at first, Clara soon finds herself swept up in the fun as they dance, sing, and celebrate their heritage.

The vibrant illustrations perfectly capture the energy and whimsy of the story, bringing the joy of New Orleans culture to life on every page. The book is a sensory experience, with vivid visuals and language.

Soulful Struttin’ is a celebration of Black heritage, a reminder of the magic in family traditions, and an encouragement to find joy in everyday moments.

Soulful Struttin, written by Julia Pierre Hammond and illustrated by Ana Latese is about a young girl named Clara and her family who have weekend family traditions. Clara " always tries to avoid" one of those family traditions but her father creates a way to make it enjoyable. Clara slowly begins to warm up to the idea of cleaning and ultimately finds she enjoys it. The story initially grabbed my attention as I was able to connect and relate to the weekend tradition as my family did something similar and often played Gospel music while cleaning our home which I still do even today. The illustrations are beautifully drawn and pair well with the story. The whimsical and playful aspect of this book is great for young readers as well as teaching children to cherish the moments shared with family as well as celebrating their culture through music and food. Thank you NetGalley and FreeSpirit Publishing for the opportunity to read and review this heartening book.

A soulful and delightful book. The story and illustrations are fun and engaging and the extras at the end such as the playlist, gumbo recipe and more are such fun additions to engage the reader even more!

This was a heart warming story of a father and daughter bonding and finding the joy in chores through music. I shared this story in a story time I host and the kids loved it. Not only does this story introduce music and jazz, but it’s also a good interactive lesson on making every day tasks fun!

I’d recommend this book to fans of music, jazz, and New Orleans. The perfect bedtime story or group reading selection for classrooms.

This was a sweet illustrated book that is perfect for storytime either at home or at school. I'd definitely consider reading it to my first-graders. Thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review it.

This is so sweet and fun, I really enjoyed it! I love all things New Orleans so I especially loved the songs that were included. It could also be some good inspiration for parents to make chores fun

A pleasant and quick read, where a girl aghast at her father ends up doing just like him. For it's Sunday, and to kill the drudgery of cleaning the house, the man sings and dances and gives it the whole New Orleans jazz thang. But when our heroine is ordered to help out, too – whattaya know but she doesn't join in and do the same. The lesson is definitely on the overt side – that parents just love it when a kid starts cleaning the house for them. No, strike that, I mean the lesson is that music and dance and being silly without worry makes for a happier household, and bopping along makes you forget you're working hard. Yes, that's the lesson, and it's one many people might remember to pass on. This is a pretty decent way to do that. I do think you have to like the old N'Orleans playlist included to get everything from these pages, but we all have our favourites to clean to, so pretty much any parent should be able to adapt and adopt this, to their benefit.