Review: How to Make a Perfect S’more by Michael Cooper

Item: How to Make a Perfect S'more
Author: Richetta

Posted January 30, 2025 by Richetta in Children's Books, SEL / 1 Comment

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I received this book for free from Multicultural Children's Book Day in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

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Review: How to Make a Perfect S’more by Michael Cooper

How to Make a Perfect S'more by Michael Cooper
Published by BookBaby on February 24, 2025
Genres: Children's/ Multicultural
Pages: 44
Format: eBook
Source: Multicultural Children's Book Day
Buy on Bookshop, Buy on Libro.fm
Goodreads

How to Make a Perfect S'more, a heartwarming and diverse story about a child's first time at summer camp and an unlikely fire-breathing friend who helps him confront his fears. Miles tells Granny he doesn't want to go, but soon the days at Camp Cascade are full of adventure. However, he dreads the nights when everyone gathers around the campfire to make s'mores. He's never made one and campfires are scary! Miles and his fire-breathing friend have a lot in common including the absence of their parents and, side by side, they tackle the summer's new experiences together.
With lush painterly illustrations and a text that is imaginative and relatable, the book warmly invites young readers to identify with the diverse characters and learn from the important life skills that are instilled throughout the story. With its themes of adjusting to a new environment, being inclusive and accepting of new friends, or simply appreciating the joys of summer, How to Make a Perfect S'more is a wonderful read-aloud for families and educators of young children.

book cover s'more — Buy on Bookshop – **Preorder until Feb. 24, 2025**

This story about a little boy who doesn’t feel like he fits in at camp, has a very surprising plot twist! How to Make a Perfect S’more by Michael Cooper and illustrated by Penny Weber is the story of Miles’ first summer camp experience. Hesitant at first, he begins to have lots of fun learning new skills. But when it’s time for the campfire, he gets very uncomfortable. Being a city kid, he has never made a s’more before and he gets embarrassed by his inability to roast a marshmallow.

Learning New Skills

Everyone at one time or another has had an experience where they tried something new and the situation quickly got embarrassing. Miles’ struggle with the campfire is a great opportunity to talk with your young readers about how to manage a situation where they feel they aren’t picking up a skill they would like to.

Plot Twist & Recipes

I won’t say too much, but I will say that Miles makes a new friend who has wings, breathes fire, and can roast a mean marshmallow. There are also a few s’more recipes at the end of How to Make a Perfect S’more if you get a taste for one after reading.

SEL Connections

How to Make a Perfect S’more is a good book to read with a child preparing to go to an outdoor summer camp. It’s also good for discussing how to respond to situations where our learning pace and our expectations and/or need to fit in don’t line up the way we want.

Celebrate Read Your World 2025

Read Your World 2025 (1/30/25) is in its 13^th year! Valarie Budayr and Mia Wenjen founded this non-profit children’s literacy initiative; they are two diverse book-loving moms who saw a need to shine the spotlight on all of the multicultural diverse books and authors on the market while also working to get those books into the hands of young readers and educators.

Read Your World’s mission is to raise awareness of the need to include kids’ books celebrating diversity in homes and school bookshelves. Read about our Mission and history HERE.

Read Your World is honored to be Supported by these Medallion:

FOUNDER’S CIRCLE: Mia Wenjen (Pragmaticmom) and Valarie Budayr (Audreypress.com)

🏅 Super Platinum Sponsor: Author Deedee Cummings and Make A Way Media

🏅 Platinum Sponsors: Publisher Spotlight and Language Lizard Bilingual Books in 60 Languages

🏅 Gold Sponsors: Third State Books

🏅 Silver Sponsors: The Quarto Group, Red Comet Press and Lerner Books

🏅 Silver Corporate Sponsor: Scholastic Books

🏅 Bronze Sponsors: Lee and Low and Star Bright Books

🏅 Bronze Corporate Sponsor: Crayola Education

🏅 Ruby Corporate Sponsor: MagicBlox

Read Your World is honored to be Supported by these Author Sponsors!

Authors: Stephanie M. Wildman, Martha Seif Simpson, Anna Jennings, Gwen Jackson, Afsaneh Moradian, Joaquín Camp, Rahana Dariah, Ziggy Hanaor, Josh Funk, Nancy Tupper Ling, Kathleen Burkinshaw, Gea Meijering, Eugenia Chu, Dorktales Story Time, Amanda Hsiung-Blodgett, Authors J.C. Kato and J.C.², Cynthia Levinson, Diana Huang, Rochelle Melander, Lisa Chong, Lisa Stringfellow, Brunella Costaglioga, Lindsey Rowe Parker, Rachel C. Katz, Tonya Duncan Ellis, Shifa Safadi, Lisa Rogers, Sylvia Liu, Eva Clarke, Crystal Murakami, Teddi Ahrens

Read Your World is Honored to be Supported by our CoHosts and Global CoHosts and by our Partner Organizations!

Check out RYW’s Multicultural Books for Kids Pinterest Board!

📌 FREE RESOURCES from Read Your World Day

📌 Register for the Read Your World Virtual Party: https://readyourworld.org/virtualparty

Join us on Thursday, January 30, 2025, at 9 pm EST celebrating 13 years of Read Your World Day Virtual Party! Register here.

This epically fun and fast-paced hour includes multicultural book discussions, addressing timely issues, diverse book recommendations, & reading ideas.

We will be giving away a 10-Book Bundle during the virtual party plus Bonus Prizes as well! *** US and Global participants are welcome. **

Follow the hashtag #ReadYourWorld to join the conversation, and connect with like-minded parts, authors, publishers, educators, organizations, and librarians. We look forward to seeing you all on January 30, 2025, at our virtual party!