Penny, The Review Group's reviewer Penny for Your ThoughtsThe Review Group
Children's ✦ Penny’s Take

I Talk Like a River

Jordan Scott · 2020
86/100
👍 Worth It

Jordan Scott's autobiographical picture book about growing up with a stutter is one of the most praised children's books in recent years — Schneider Family Book Award, Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor, NYT Best. Sydney Smith's illustrations visually mirror the experience of stuttered speech in a way that is genuinely moving. A rare picture book that earns every accolade it receives.

✦ Penny’s Take — this is The Review Group’s own editorial assessment. Penny’s analytical review line researched this book from real sources and scored it across the lenses shown below. It’s an honest first-party read — not a page-by-page personal one. The gold ✓ Penny Tested mark is reserved for books Penny reads cover to cover herself.
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Show the math
Verdict receipt0–100
Faith & family safety96
Substance / usefulness82
Craft & writing88
Originality81
Evidence & accuracy84
Hype vs delivers79
Age-fit85
👁 Human-eye gut-check87
Penny’s verdict86
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