“Singer/songwriter Withers’s encouraging lyrics form the text of this upbeat picture book . . . The late musician’s supportive song, released in 1972, is the backdrop to a story about a quartet of racially diverse young friends sharing various life experiences. The kids explore the outdoors, go camping, and share life events—some happy, some less so—occasionally with parents. The book makes clear that supportive friendship, or ‘leaning on,’ is mutual . . . As the book proceeds, the illustrations subtly depict the foursome becoming adolescents who still care about one another. The artwork is colorful and lively. The nature of song lyrics is there’s a repetitive element to them, so these important words and the overarching messages about support, outreach, and the permanency of friendships are easy to recall, absorb, and, hopefully, emulate. Readers eager to hear Withers’s uplifting song will be pleased by the inclusion of a QR code that allows them to listen to it on platforms such as Spotify or Tidal. A positive, inspirational message for children to lean on and into.”
—Kirkus Reviews

“Lean on Me provides a nice illustration that we’re all in this world together. When things get rough, we don’t have to face it alone. It goes against the ‘rugged individualist’ mythology that’s been popular in American culture for so long. To me, that’s a good thing.”
—Ink 19

“Lean on Me is a touching and charming picture book that encourages children to value and cherish their friendships. With its timeless message and the magical combination of Bill Withers’s lyrics and Rachel Moss’s illustrations, this book is sure to captivate young hearts and inspire conversations about the importance of being there for one another.”
—Phantom Paragrapher