Review by Booklist Review
This charming picture book teaches little ones how to soothe their worries and practice gratitude and mindfulness. Readers journey through the day of a rosy cheeked child, who opens the book by saying, "Whenever I am feeling sad / or life feels hard or wrong or bad, / I focus for a little while . . . / on little things / that make me smile." The rhyming text carries a soothing cadence as the child describes all the good things that they experience during their day at the park, from the pleasure of having a ladybug land in their hand to jumping in a squelchy mud puddle. Hamilton's childlike illustrations match the spirit of the text, capturing the emotions being expressed, whether joyfully flying through the air on a swing or slurping up tasty noodles at dinner. The book also addresses nighttime fears and closes with a final reminder that when you feel blue or sad to look around and remember how lovely things can be. A sweet SEL offering.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 2--A young child manages challenging feelings and emotions by focusing on small things in this gentle and rhyming tale of gratitude and mindfulness. The brown-skinned child, along with parents, baby sibling in a stroller, and unleashed dog, traipse through a park. During the stroll, the child narrates that whenever they are feeling down, they "focus for a little while on little things that make me smile." The child then notes their appreciation of everything from the small ladybug that lands on their hand, to the playground swings and the feeling of flight they provide, from delicious noodles and tasty ice cream, to the twinkling stars of the night sky. Hart's text, told in rhyming couplets, presents thankfulness in an accessible and engaging way for young readers, while also providing comfort and encouragement. Hamilton's bright and textured illustrations feature colorful and vibrant spreads, making this title an ideal choice for story times, classroom read-alouds, and one-on-one sharing. VERDICT This sweet and soothing story is a welcome addition to any collection.--Olivia Gorecke
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
A child manages difficult emotions by focusing on small things that bring smiles. A brown child with curly hair runs ahead of parents--one light-skinned, one brown-skinned--who push a stroller with a baby through a city park with their unleashed pet dog running alongside. "Whenever I am feeling sad," the child narrates, or tired or worried, "I tell myself…say thank you for the little things." As the child plays at the park, winds down at home, and falls asleep, the little things that brighten the day range from ladybugs and daisies to swings and puddles; noodles and ice cream to bubble baths, stories, and a teddy bear. On a final spread, the text addresses readers, encouraging them to "look around" and "see…how lovely little things can be." The text is written in rhyming stanzas that detail the fun and comfort of each little thing mentioned, inspiring gratitude and close observation. The illustrations use a crayon-style texture with busy strokes that convey a childlike energy against spare backgrounds. Multicolored hearts and stars follow the child through the spreads. The child's facial expressions are somewhat limited, leaving readers to infer emotions from the text and situations. (This book was reviewed digitally.) A cute introduction to a gratitude practice that children can understand. (Picture book. 3-7) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
