Happy Right Now

by Julie Berry, Holly Hatam (Illustrator)

Overview

An illustrated picture book that teaches the best way to be happy is to embrace the circumstances we find ourselves in each day

Happy Right Now brings a much-needed message to kids: it’s great to feel happy, but it’s okay to feel sad sometimes too.

Dealing with emotions can be hard. Children experience the same range of strong feelings as adults, but often don’t have the tools to deal with them. For children ages 4 to 8, Happy Right Now teaches emotional intelligence with fun, relatable imagery and clever rhymes.

Award-winning author Julie Berry brings a playful bounce to the important lesson that kids don’t need to wait for fantastic gifts, school vacations, or sunny days to find joy in the moment. And even if they can’t find a way to choose happiness—if the blues are just too strong—Berry provides a series of quick practices to help young readers move through their sadness.

Smartly illustrated by Holly Hatam, Happy Right Now is perfect for children, parents, and caregivers who want to learn how to navigate difficult emotions and embrace the bright side of any situation, rain or shine.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781683643524
Publisher:	Sounds True, Incorporated
Publication date:	10/29/2019
Pages:	32
Sales rank:	402,983
Product dimensions:	8.40(w) x 10.70(h) x 0.50(d)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Julie Berry is a prolific author of critically acclaimed books for children, including middle grade and YA novels. Her book The Passion of Dolssa was a 2017 Printz honor title. Julie is active with school visits and conference appearances. For more, see julieberrybooks.com.

Editorial Reviews

"While most children (and adults) can relate to negative thought patterns, this book may be most helpful for those who experience mild forms of anxiety and depression, the text incorporating cognitive, physiological, and action-based tools to improve mood and combat negativity." —Kirkus Reviews

"What contributes most to the story’s success is the necessary and reassuring reminder that sadness is inevitable and fleeting, and that it’s okay to be sad in the moment while still striving for happiness. VERDICT An excellent picture book about emotional intelligence that is perfect for one-on-one sharing." —School Library Journal

"A young girl reminds herself to make a conscious decision every day to find happiness in this feel-good story with an important message for everyone who might be waiting for the rain to clear, or for the weekend to arrive, in order to have fun." — Foreword Reviews

From the Publisher

11/01/2019

PreS-Gr 2—A young black child practices mindfulness and tries to find happiness in the present. The girl sits on her bed and dreams of how happy she'll be one day when she gets a puppy, and a unicorn, and a castle with a friendly dragon. With each scenario that unfolds the young narrator gives some conditions for her happiness: she'll be happy when everyone thinks she is popular and amazing, or when all the chores are done. But after each of these statements, she considers how to be happy right now. The text reminds readers to breathe in and out, to, "borrow an old smile from a brighter day," and rest in the knowledge that they will be happy again soon. What contributes most to the story's success is the necessary and reassuring reminder that sadness is inevitable and fleeting, and that it's okay to be sad in the moment while still striving for happiness. The collage and mixed media illustrations aren't very dynamic, but convey the story's message adequately and are filled with a diverse cast of children and animals. The occasionally rhyming, alliterative text is conversational, with hesitancy and apprehension communicated through staggered text and italics. VERDICT An excellent picture book about emotional intelligence that is perfect for one-on-one sharing.—Laken Hottle, Providence Community Library, RI

School Library Journal

2019-08-28
A young child learns to reach for happiness.

The young narrator, a black child with cornrows and afro puffs, thinks of many acquisitions and happenings that would bring happiness. The glum kid will be happy after getting "a puppy, / a unicorn, / an ice-cream sundae." Or when "everyone adores me." But each time, the narrator adds, "Or, I can be happy right now." As the difficulties standing in the way of happiness grow harder to bear—sickness, sadness, and sorrows—the narrator more actively counteracts them. The kid can "snuggle down for a sleepy snooze" or "breathe right now / … / Feel my body relax… // …Know that happy will find me again soon." The final spread shows the child balancing on a branch, reaching toward a cat, knowing that "I'll be happy when / I'm hopeful, / cheerful, / helpful, / thankful. / Reaching for happy / until I can grab it." While most children (and adults) can relate to negative thought patterns, this book may be most helpful for those who experience mild forms of anxiety and depression, the text incorporating cognitive, physiological, and action-based tools to improve mood and combat negativity. The illustrations convey only two emotions—sad and happy—and an embodied "worry monkey" (whose fur is unfortunately reminiscent of the narrator's afro puffs) scampers about on two spreads.

Despite its visual flaws, this book will help a small, deserving readership. (Picture book. 4-8)

Kirkus Reviews