The Joy in You

by Cat Deeley, Rosie Butcher (Illustrator)

Overview

Encourage kids to live out loud and be their truest selves with this picture book from host of So You Think You Can Dance and mom Cat Deeley.

Dream big, as big as the night sky full of stars.
When you discover the things you love, you’ll find true joy.
 
Journey through a magical world, filled with a colorful cast of animals, where readers have endless opportunities to be themselves and find freedom in expression. They will delight in the silly humor and undeniable spirit of this rhythmic picture book—and take to heart the message that they are enough exactly as they are!
 
Cat Deeley’s debut is the perfect gift for baby showers, birthday parties, and moving-up ceremonies. Its cozy illustrations also make it an ideal bedtime book that you can read to your little one.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780593181430
Publisher:	Random House Children's Books
Publication date:	09/15/2020
Sold by:	Random House
Format:	eBook
Pages:	32
Lexile:	AD510L (what's this?)
File size:	16 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Cat Deeley is the proud mama of two boys. Since 2006, she has been the host of So You Think You Can Dance, which has earned her five Primetime Emmy nominations. Cat is also a UNICEF UK ambassador. She loves spending time with family and friends, cooking, interior design, vintage shopping, and working on television. Find her on Instagram and Twitter at @catdeeley.

Rosie Butcher grew up surrounded by books and dreamed of drawing pictures for children’s books. She has illustrated many projects, including actress Vanessa Bayer’s How Do You Care for a Very Sick Bear? Find Rosie on Twitter and Instagram at @Scrimmle.

Editorial Reviews

"The message is wholehearted and positive.” —Kirkus Reviews

From the Publisher

08/01/2020

PreS-Gr 2—This picture book has a strong message of self-empowerment. Readers are encouraged to find what action gives them joy and then go do it. The pastel colored pictures show a variety of sweetly humanized animals going off to do the things that make themselves happy, such as singing, dancing, or flying to the moon. The animals are shown both on their own and with each other. There is no narrative arc; this is a list of encouraging messages, for things to do as well as for things to feel. It concludes with a reminder that someone will always be with you, presumably the giver of the book or perhaps a parent. VERDICT There are many stronger books about self-empowerment that could be added to a library collection before adding this one.—Debbie Tanner, S D Spady Montessori Elem., FL

School Library Journal

2020-07-14
A parent koala encourages its child to engage in every pursuit, and so do several other animals.

The British celebrity author, host of both children’s and adult TV programs, has a very positive message to spread, but there is nothing original in the lightweight text. The many animal characters pictured in diverting, fuzzy-edged illustrations engage in various activities as the text encourages them. “You can sing! If you love to sing, sing. / Shout at the top of your lungs, or whisper soft and sweet.” On verso, a frog quartet harmonizes, while across the gutter, a lion is shown with open mouth roaring as a small bird presumably whispers. Using rhyme and alliteration but without real poetic consistency, lines such as these appear: “You can share. You can care. You can create. You can learn. / You can wonder. You can wander.” The pink flamingo creating a fantastic dessert with pineapple rings is an appealing image, and children will enjoy seeing the cuddly baby koala throughout the book as other animals step up for their showcase. The fantasy-forest setting and its animals will keep small children engaged, but the sweetness comes with a significant aftertaste of treacle. (This book was reviewed digitally with 10.5-by-19-inch double-page spreads viewed at 34.5% of actual size.)

The message is wholehearted and positive, but the cloying execution doesn’t stand out. (Picture book. 3-5)

Kirkus Reviews