Book Review of Sydney Monarch’s Wondrous Day
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The Children’s Book Review
Sydney Monarch’s Wondrous Day
Written by Greg Maddox
Illustrated by Sian Rips
Ages: 4-6 | 36 Pages
Publisher: Amazon KDP (2025) | ISBN: 9798285421597
What to Expect: Joy, wonder, mindfulness, friendship, wisdom.
In this colorful picture book, readers will explore emotional intelligence and the idea that our moods can be both changeable and within our control.
One day, Sydney Monarch wakes up feeling AMAZING! All around her, the world feels magical and special, from the big sycamore tree and the river to her wonderful friends going about their daily business. Soon, all that joy makes Sydney feel sleepy, and she takes a nap. Imagine her disappointment when she wakes to find the world looking just ordinary again. Where did the magic of the day disappear to? When Sydney asks her friends Eleanor and Crawdaddy how she could have gone from so happy to so down, they help her understand—happiness comes and goes like a breeze, but we can also grow happiness within ourselves. And with that sage advice, Sydney’s amazing day is back!
A colorful and upbeat butterfly, Sydney is both appealing and relatable as a main character, and readers will also enjoy the quirkiness of the other animal characters—especially the wise old crawfish couple. Throughout the picture book, vibrant illustrations showcase the beauty of the forest from various perspectives, following Sydney’s viewpoint as she flies around and helping readers feel immersed in her emotions. The central message of the story that we can influence our own happiness is empowering and uplifting.
Sydney Monarch’s Wondrous Day is a beautiful, simple story, ideal for home reading or the social-emotional learning (SEL) classroom, where it can spark meaningful discussions and inspire young minds.
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About the Author
Greg Maddox is a therapist, writer, and dad who first created the Beargrass Creek Friends to entertain his daughter Sally at bedtime. Twenty-five years later, with Sally’s encouragement, he’s brought the stories back to life to share with new families.
Set in a magical bend of Beargrass Creek in Louisville, these tales are full of friendship, wonder, and small moments that matter.
For more information, visit beargrasscreekfriends.com.
About the Illustrator
Sian Rips is a New York-based designer, artist, and illustrator with an MFA in illustration from the Savannah College of Art and Design. She now works as a children’s book designer and illustrator inspired by nature, animals, family, and adventure. She has gone on to work with HarperCollins, GreenRhino Media, Archway Publishing, and many self published authors to bring stories to life.
Dedicated Reviews allow authors and illustrators to gain prompt visibility for their work. This is a sponsored*, non-biased review of Sydney Monarch’s Wondrous Day. Learn more about getting a book review …
