Close Menu
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram Pinterest LinkedIn YouTube TikTok
    • Home
    • Submission Guidelines
    • Advertise
    • Mentorship
    • Editing Services
    • About
    • Contact
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram Pinterest TikTok
    The Children's Book Review
    Subscribe
    • Books by Subject
    • Books by Age
      • Ages 0-3, Infant and Toddler
      • Ages 4-8, Preschool to Elementary
      • Ages 9-12, Preteen and Tween
      • Ages 12+, Teen and Young Adult
      • Books for First Grade Readers
      • Books for Second Grade Readers
      • Books for Third Grade Readers
    • Favorites
      • Diverse and Inclusive Books
      • Books About Activism
      • Best Books for Kids
      • Star Wars Books
      • Board Books
      • Books About Mindfulness
      • Dr. Seuss Books
    • Showcase
    • Interviews
      • Growing Readers Podcast
      • Author Interviews and Q&A
      • Illustrator Interviews
    • Kids’ Book Giveaways
    • Directory
    • Podcast
    The Children's Book Review

    Grow Through It! by Jay Dee | Book Spotlight

    Bianca SchulzeBy Bianca Schulze4 Mins Read Ages 4-8 Ages 9-12 Picture Books Social Emotional
    Share
    Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email


    The Children’s Book Review

    See how starting each day with purpose and gratitude can make all the difference!

    Ellen is stuck at home. There’s no school and no friends, and Mom is working all the time. It seems terrible until she learns about the choice each day offers: GET through it or GROW through it.

    Book Grow Through ItGrow Through It!

    Written by Jay Dee

    Illustrated by Jacob Chalkley, Darren Geers, Feras Khagani, Mike Shaposhnikov, Ishmam Ahmed, and Axel Schmidt

    Publisher’s Synopsis: Ellen is stuck at home. There’s no school and no friends, and Mom is working all the time. It seems terrible until she learns about the choice each day offers: GET through it or GROW through it. See how starting each day with purpose and gratitude can make all the difference! Created during the CV-19 pandemic, 100% of the proceeds from sales of this book are donated to coronavirus relief efforts.

    Illustration Grow Through It

    Ages 5+ | Publisher: Kraine Kreative | May 17, 2020 | ISBN-13: 978-0989810876

    Buy the Book
    Buy on Amazon

    About the Author

    Jay Dee Author Headshot
    Jay Dee

    Jay Dee is an author, a certified coach, and the freshly crowned video chat expert for his nieces and nephews. As the coronavirus lockdown seemed to put life on pause, he was inspired to create a book that reminded kids (and himself!) that even days spent sheltering in place are opportunities to grow. Jay lives in San Francisco and is the author of the bestseller, The Night Before The Night Before Christmas. Find his other books at www.krainekreative.com.

    For more information, visit www.GrowThroughItBook.com and Facebook.com/krainekreative.

    The Illustrators

    Illustration Grow Through It

    Jacob Chalkley is UX Designer based out of San Francisco, CA. His passions include music, movies, and making sure his portfolio is 5yrs out of date. His previous achievements include runner-up for student council president for Van Buren Elementary 1996, perfect attendance award for Plainfield Middle School in 1999, and achieving a bowling score of 132 in 2018. He has been using his lockdown time to prepare for his firstborn son due May 27th. He hopes to be a frontrunner for “World’s Best Dad” in 2020.

    Having an interest in drawing ever since he picked up a book about how to draw Marvel Superheroes, Feras Khagani has continued to practice illustration well into his adult life. He loves to spend his time exploring art, books, movies, games, and YouTube essays. He’s both excited and grateful to contribute to a project aimed at helping others in need, and prays that everyone stays safe! He also wants to thank the brave medical experts and essential workers that are keeping our society going in this pandemic. His work can be found under his name on Instagram.

    Ishmam Ahmed is an illustrator, engineer, and writer based in Minneapolis, MN. He got his start as a kid who got in trouble for doodling in the middle of science class. He’s now well-known for his power portraits and digital paintings on ishmam.deviantart.com and recently fulfilled his long-time dream of illustrating for a children’s book. When he’s not hammering out his next creative project, which can eventually be found on ishmam.com, he’s reading novels in his hammock, biking around the Minneapolis Chain of Lakes, or cooking up a curry.

    Axel Schmidt is an illustrator based out of the Ballard neighborhood of Seattle, WA. During the COVID-19 lockdown, a random connection was made through an unlikely forum that presented the opportunity to participate in this project. While never his goal nor intention for his art, many people who viewed his work often commented that he should do illustrations for children’s books. So he made the jump to the realm where many people felt his talents should already be. By day, he is a Project Manager in the renewable energy world and when not working or illustrating, he can often be found biking, hiking or camping in the great PNW trails and mountains. His work can be seen at www.adsillustrations.com

    Darren Geers

    Mike Shaposhnikov is an illustrator and character designer based in Moscow, Russia.

    He is bringing his vision of a fantasy world to life through games, children’s book or animation projects, and creating original character designs in free time.

    He is mainly active on kolgarave.deviantart.com

    What to Read Next:

    1. Grow Through It!, by Jay Dee | Dedicated Review
    2. Sip Tea with Mad Hatter: At KAMP®, by Loretta Neff | Awareness Tour
    3. Two Little Golfers Being Positive, by Jenn Holt | Book Spotlight
    4. The ‘One Big Canvas’ Book Series | Book Spotlight

    *Disclosure: Please note that this post may contain affiliate links that share some commission. Rest assured that these will not affect the cost of any products and services promoted here. Our team always provides their authentic opinion in all content published on this site.

    Gratitude Jay Dee Mental Health Positive Thinking The Awareness Tour
    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
    Previous ArticleAmerican Girl Summer Treats Cookbook | Book Spotlight
    Next Article Speed Interview with Laura Perdew, Author of The Fort
    Bianca Schulze
    • Website
    • Facebook
    • X (Twitter)
    • LinkedIn

    Bianca Schulze is the founder of The Children’s Book Review. She is a reader, reviewer, mother and children’s book lover. She also has a decade’s worth of experience working with children in the great outdoors. Combined with her love of books and experience as a children’s specialist bookseller, the goal is to share her passion for children’s literature to grow readers. Born and raised in Sydney, Australia, she now lives with her husband and three children near Boulder, Colorado.

    32 Comments

    1. linda a gawthrop on May 25, 2020 10:14 am

      I serve on the Board of our community library. I am so grateful for our staff who keep our patrons informed and engaged. Our children’s specialist reads stories on video and she just created a series of laminated story “walk” that she posted outside our library with activities to make up for our building being closed…she’s amazing! https://www.facebook.com/ebcl17316/videos/726330591509020/

      Reply
    2. jodi george on May 25, 2020 10:16 am

      I would love to win this book because I love to read to my 6 grandloves and I feel this book has a message to share that they need to hear .. thank you for the chance <3

      Reply
    3. Anne on May 25, 2020 10:18 am

      My 4 grandchildren would enjoy this wonderful treasure. Thanks.

      Reply
    4. Brianna B. on May 25, 2020 10:29 am

      I love these illustrations! So creative! I would love to read this to my 3 children. A good read on current events and how other children are getting through these times is crucial for growth. Thank you for the review!

      Reply
    5. Mary W on May 25, 2020 10:31 am

      We have been gardening with the kids while we are all working at home for a long time to come. They love picking fresh vegetables from the seeds that they planted. I think they would relate to this book and enjoy reading it out loud.

      Reply
    6. Katy M on May 25, 2020 10:51 am

      This looks like a very timely book for our daughter. The silver lining I’ve found is how much I’ve learned about how her brain works academically. Also, she’s very good at reading and math. Way more ahead than I thought she was. And of course, we’re much closer as a family!

      Reply
    7. Lisa on May 25, 2020 12:22 pm

      I would like to win this book because there are kids in the family that would get something out of the story and they love new books. I have found during the pandemic that I don’t need so much stuff. It’s nice to just keep things simple.

      Reply
    8. NANCY on May 25, 2020 12:47 pm

      Sounds like a wonderful book. I am just glad that it wasn’t worse & that my family is healthy.

      Reply
    9. J David White on May 25, 2020 6:52 pm

      Would love to win a copy for my two granddaughters, ages 7 and 5, whom unfortunately my wife and I have been unable to visit since Christmas. They’re in Pittsburgh, PA and we’re in High Point, NC and have only seen them via FaceTime since. We missed one birthday and a few teeth during these last few months. Smiles

      Reply
    10. Brenna P on May 25, 2020 7:25 pm

      Great cover! Grow with It can mean anything to someone (grow mentally, physically) but the pic showing growing food is perfect. I can’t wait to read this and share with a friend’s daughter who helped put in her first garden.

      Reply
    11. Victoria Scott on May 25, 2020 7:31 pm

      My kiddos have been having a tough time with the quarantine even though they understand it’s for the greater good! This would be excellent for them!

      Reply
      • Susan Stickney on June 18, 2020 1:42 pm

        This would be perfect for my great nieces because my niece is very afraid for their future.

        Reply
    12. Dana Matthews on May 26, 2020 3:12 am

      I’d love to share this with my nephew, Sam. He loves books and he loves to read. We’ve taken advantage of this Pandemic and have done a lot of family activities and have made wonderful memories.

      Reply
    13. Anne Perry on May 26, 2020 4:48 am

      I would love to share this book with my sons. We have planted our garden.

      Reply
    14. Vickie L Couturier on May 26, 2020 10:54 pm

      id love to win this for my 8 yr old grandaughter,who has just discovered the joy of reading,,she isalways carrying a book around with her

      Reply
    15. Dreama Villa on May 27, 2020 5:03 am

      What a wonderful book!!

      Reply
    16. apple blossom on May 27, 2020 11:38 am

      grateful for good health every day

      Reply
    17. Pingback: Blog Tour Grow Through It by Jay Dee | J.R.'s Book Reviews

    18. Bookkooks on May 29, 2020 6:43 am

      What a wonderful article. Thank you very much. Stay safe and healthy!

      Reply
    19. Andrea Carroll on May 29, 2020 3:12 pm

      I can’t wait to read this to my students… when we get back to the classroom.

      Reply
    20. gloria patterson on June 1, 2020 12:07 pm

      My great niece loves books and I have been getting them for her since before she was born. During lock down her mother was cleaning her room like so many others. She started pulling books out of Zay’s bookcase and zay was not having it. Mommy tried to explain that they were baby books and they would give them away. Zay was not having it they were her books and she was keeping them. And she kept them!

      Reply
    21. Nancy Jachcik on June 1, 2020 8:07 pm

      Sounds like a very appropriate book for the times we are experiencing now I think my grandchildren would enjoy and learn something from it

      Reply
    22. LeAnn Harbert on June 2, 2020 3:53 pm

      I want this book for my granddaughters. I think it will help them get through tough times.

      Reply
    23. Pingback: It's Monday! What are you reading? | Woodpecker Books

    24. Dena Akbar on June 8, 2020 6:31 pm

      What a wonderful book!!

      Reply
    25. Pingback: Review of Grow Through It by Jay Dee | Woodpecker Books

    26. Pingback: Grow With It - Younger Family Fun

    27. Susan Smith on June 16, 2020 9:03 am

      This sounds like a cute book that my niece would enjoy.

      Reply
    28. Debra Branigan on June 21, 2020 4:54 am

      This sounds like a book for today for sure! I have managed through the lockdown by getting my affairs in order and sending books and gifts to my grandchildren off and on. I sure miss seeing them.

      Reply
    29. Nancy on June 23, 2020 6:56 am

      I am thankful for all the helpers during the pandemic.

      Reply
    30. Susan P. on June 23, 2020 9:45 pm

      Starting each day with purpose and gratitude is a lesson all the young people could learn from.

      Reply
    31. Janice Vega on June 25, 2020 2:52 pm

      Covid is not going anywhere, unfortunately. I’d love to share this book with my new class when we begin in the fall. As an adult, I struggle with my emotional feelings and worry about loved ones. I want kids to know that we will get through this and can learn from it.

      Reply
    Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    TCBR Supporter
    Recent Articles
    • Me So Akonnwa A Me So Dua | Dedicated Review
    • ABC Diario: Cada día te quiero de la A a la Z | Book Review
    • Sincerely, Antonia: A Big Note from a Tiny Guest | Book Review
    • Sunny and the Border Patrol | Book Review
    • Princess Fusspot, by Nancy Kunhardt Lodge | Dedicated Review
    TCBR Supporters
    sponsored | become a TCBR supporter today

    sponsored | become a TCBR supporter today
    sponsored | become a TCBR supporter today
    sponsored | become a TCBR supporter today
    Discover Kids Books by Age
    Best Books For Kids
    Media Kit: The Children's Book Review
    Author and Illustrator Showcase
    SEARCH
    BOOKS BY SUBJECT
    Archives
    Professional Resources

    Book Marketing Campaigns

    Writing Coaches and Editing Services

    Mentorship

    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram Pinterest YouTube LinkedIn TikTok
    • Submission Guidelines
    • Policies
    • Advertise
    • TCBR Buzzworthy Mentions
    • About TCBR
    © 2025 The Children’s Book Review. All rights reserved.

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.