100 Things That Make Me Happy

Starred review from August 11, 2014
Move over, BuzzFeed, Schwartz (Dee Dee and Me) has come up with the ultimate list—and it rhymes: “Red bow/ Tic-tac-toe/ Hula-hoops/ double scoops.” It seems pretty effortless, especially given that most of the sources of happiness catalogued are pretty down to earth. But in fact, Schwartz employs some skillful anti-soppy strategies to ensure her book stays bright, breezy, and buoyant. Hairpin category turns—putting “Something sweet” (a trio of cupcakes) adjacent to “a parakeet”—create a sense of playful spontaneity. The tightly rendered illustrations, which usually appear in twos or three against white backgrounds, have a refreshing emotional reticence; the kids’ happiness is shown as matter-of-fact and grounded rather than euphoric or manic. And then there are the descriptions themselves, eloquent in their unfussiness: it’s enough to say “Grandma’s lap” (the rhyme is completed with “a gingersnap”) and show an image of a child snuggled up and reading with this beloved adult—the author knows her audience can fill in the rest. Schwartz isn’t the first to try a compendium of this sort, but she sets a new benchmark. Ages 3–6.

Starred review from September 15, 2014
Lollipop colors and utterly cheery simplicity make for a rousing read-aloud chant. A multiethnic cast of small children and adults lists happy-making small joys in rhyme. It is near impossible not to find something readers will love, too, whether "red socks" and "building blocks" or "braids" and "parades." The pictures range from multiple small vignettes on a spread to full-page illustrations. One particularly striking composition places "city lights" across the gutter from "starry nights." In the first picture, a child tucked in bed looks out her window to a brightly lit nighttime cityscape; opposite, a parent and child toast marshmallows outside their tent on a hill under the stars. It's hard not to love "strawberry ice" and "pizza slice" or a grandfather and grandson pushing their "grocery carts" full of stuff (and those carts rhyme with "frosted hearts"). Fine line and strong color make each image a joy: There's lots of pattern and movement to every figure, therefore much to revel in visually. All 100 things are numbered and reproduced as a poster on the inside of the dust jacket, and the endpapers are striped in every color used. It is a book chock-full of fun-what more could one want? (Picture book. 3-8)

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Starred review from August 1, 2014

PreS-Gr 1-This lovely volume features 100 everyday objects and activities from a child's world that elicit pleasure. In rhyming couplets, the list ranges from "bucket trucks/yellow ducks," "flip-flops/lollipops," and "mud puddles/soap bubbles" to "polka dots/forget-me-nots," "pony rides/shiny slides," and "braids/parades." A sample spread reads "fuzzy sweaters/long letters/ slippery floors/dinosaurs/comfy chair/county fair." Each of the rhymes is accompanied by a delightful illustration featuring a diverse cast of characters. The book jacket doubles as a poster featuring smaller-size illustrations of all 100 happy things on the reverse side. A fun, engaging read.-Sarah Polace, Cuyahoga Public Library System, OH

Copyright 2014 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

October 15, 2014
Preschool Schwartz's distinctive pictures in brilliant colors would make anyone happy. In this oversize picture book, she offers exhilarating activities in rhyme and joyful art. The active youngsters show 100 things that please them most: red socks and building blocks, flip-flops and lollipops, shiny slides and pony rides. Diverse children of all shapes and sizes interact with zestful enthusiasm, as they explore the joys of the little things in life, from mittens to kittens, snowflakes to chocolate cakes, chocolate chips to camping trips. Some ideas rhyme exactly, while some demand a little leap of imagination, as in garbagemen to a good friend. In one stunning full-page spread, an adult and a child roast marshmallows at a campfire under brilliant stars. In another, three little gourmands devour a whole apple pie each. A final peekaboo turns over to the last page's time with you, as two friends run through an erupting sprinkler in a comfortable and pleasing end to a magical romp through the senses and delights of being human.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2014, American Library Association.)