Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
A quiet loveliness, sense of gratitude, and-yes-happiness emanate from this tender celebration of simple pleasures, which features a cast of First Nations children and adults; Smith dedicates the book, in part, "to the former Indian Residential School students and their families." Short, first-person phrases ("My heart fills with happiness when... I see the face of someone I love") revel in both solitary and familial activities, building to a direct address to readers: "What fills your heart with happiness?" Flett's (Little You) crisp-edged paintings blend universal and culturally specific experiences-three children cluster around the oven as bannock bakes, while another boy spots a frog as he walks barefoot through the grass. Up to age 5. (Feb.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
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Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-K--The concept of happiness is explored in both English and Anishinaabemowin. The phrase "My heart fills with happiness" begins the book and is repeated a few times throughout. Most of the text is a single sentence about an activity that brings joy. Bold, richly colored illustrations in a folk style fill one page, while one or two small drawings of an item from the picture are on the text page. "I drum" shows a child sitting on a man's lap as they both tap drumsticks on the top of a drum, with a small drumstick drawn beneath the text. A variety of Indigenous children and families are shown enjoying their daily lives and activities. The book ends with a child viewing a reflection in a mirror and the question, "What brings you happiness?" providing an opportunity for further discussion. VERDICT Charming in its simplicity, this is a great reminder of what can be found every day in our lives.--Tamara Saarinen, Pierce County Lib., WA
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