The bus ride to visit my grandmother when I was 5 and 6 years old took us past Freihofer’s Bakery in North Troy, New York, near the Hudson River. If the timing was right, the air would be filled with the incomparably wonderful smell of baking bread. Sixty-five years later that smell never fails to make me happy, to comfort me. It is the little things that matter. Often, the simplest things bring children joy—and adults, too! Here are some new books to share with young children that beautifully evoke simple joys.
How much does a smile cost? What is the price of joy? The little hero of The Smile Shop marches confidently into the marketplace with his savings, looking forward to buying something special for himself for the very first time. Will it be a tasty pie, or a suitable hat? An interesting book, or a beautiful little boat? When an accident sends his coins down the drain, he learns from a wise photographer that a smile might be the best purchase of all—and it can easily be exchanged.
The Smile Shop by Satoshi Kitamura (Peachtree, 2020) Ages 4–7.
Sunny is the ultimate optimist. Rainy days are happy days, when a girl owns a big yellow umbrella, and glories in squishing and squashing in puddles with rubber boots. But what if a big gust of wind blows her away? No problem, she feels like a bird soaring high. And if she’s blown out to sea and deposited in a small drifting boat? That’s not a problem either, with a seagull for a friend. Everything works out sunnily as Sunny’s when you’ve got a positive attitude!
Sunny by Celia Krampien (Roaring Brook Press, 2020)
Ages 3–6.
Todd Parr’s brightly illustrated books are always favorites, simple and profound at the same time. The Joyful Book speaks of the many ways of bringing joy to the world every day. Visiting friends is joyful, and so is sending love to people who live far away. Making yummy treats or a delicious meal to share with others is joyful, for holidays or any day. A hug is always joyful! In this truly joyful book, Parr finds ways to share the feeling all year long.
The Joyful Book by Todd Parr (Little, Brown and Company, 2020) Ages 2–6.
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As the saying goes, “anticipation is half the fun.” Does that make accomplishment the other half? Bruce Handy and Hyewon Yum pose some fascinating questions in The Happiness of a Dog with a Ball in Its Mouth. In this lovely picture book, they celebrate the joy of process. It is hard to choose one flavor of ice cream, but how delicious it tastes once the cone is in your hand! It aches to lose a pet, but memories comfort us. And jumping off a diving board is scary—but so much fun once we have overcome that fear! I recommend this one for both children and adults to enjoy and ponder.
The Happiness of a Dog with a Ball in Its Mouth by Bruce Handy and Hyewon Yum (Enchanted Lion Books, 2021) All ages.
The girl in When Lola Visits celebrates the scents, sounds and deliciousness of a joyful summer with her Filipino grandmother. From the wonderful smells as Lola unzips her old leather suitcase, to the taste of grilled brown sugar bananas or golden cassava cake, to the summer odors of sunscreen, chlorine and the rain that is falling when Lola waves goodbye, we experience a sensual season of family traditions and happy togetherness. Good memories, and a jar of Lola’s mango jam, help her granddaughter transition sweetly into September.
When Lola Visits by Michelle Sterling, illustrated by Aaron Asis (Katherine Tegen Books, 2021) Ages 3–8.
Layla is 7 and she has some ideas of what happiness is. She finds it in seemingly small things, like hearing her friends’ laughter under the magnolia tree, or silly things, like eating spaghetti without a fork. It comes in beauty—the gift of a sand dollar from the sea—or in giving back by sharing vegetables at the farmers’ market. Ashleigh Corrin’s childlike artwork perfectly illustrates the joyful spirit of Layla’s Happiness, and author Mariahadessa Ekere Tallie invites children to share their own thoughts. “What is happiness to you?” (Layla’s suggestion: Wear purple!)
Layla’s Happiness by Mariahadessa Ekere Tallie, illustrated by Ashleigh Corrin (Enchanted Lion Books, 2019) Ages 3–8.
Jean Dugan, a long-time friend of Exchange, has been connecting kids with books for over 40 years. She helped establish a library program in the elementary schools of Gloucester, Massachusetts, and later brought her love of children's literature to the public library there. This is her final column for Exchange, and we thank her for years of wonderful ideas and friendship.
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