Where Happiness Begins

May 15, 2020
Sometimes Happiness skips right in step with your stride; other times it's hard to locate or hold onto. Readers find Happiness within this winning book's covers, where it takes shape as a cheery neon pink, amorphous figure (with stumpy appendages and a funny little twisty topknot). Bright cartoon illustrations show a pale child in T-shirt and slacks engaging Happiness in myriad (literal) ways. Happiness hula-hoops, reads, marches, and eats ice cream with the youngster; it also gets lost in a dark forest, runs away, and nods off to sleep. The narrator, a steady and soothing voice, sums up what's so very hard to understand about Happiness. "You can try to understand it, collect it, or protect it. / You can try to catch it....But most of the time Happiness appears to have a will of its own." Vivid, straightforward vignettes are done in a springtime palette on spacious cloud-white backdrops with nary a black line in sight. They succinctly illustrate just how exhilarating, elusive, and ephemeral Happiness can be. A powerful spread of the child riding out mammoth waves in a small boat aptly describes the bravery and resolve required to submit to overwhelming feelings and see them through. A culminating image of the sleeping child curled in bed, cuddling Happiness close with lemony morning light filling the room, provides great comfort. A playful, poignant, and wonderfully reassuring book for children as they encounter emotional hills and valleys. (Picture book. 4-10)

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July 1, 2020

K-Gr 3-In Eland's follow up to When Sadness is at Your Door, a young child is asked, "Are you looking for Happiness?" It is explained that happiness can often be in disguise, or go by a different name. It can be hiding or right out in the open, but "appears to have a will of its own." There are challenges to finding it, but there is reassurance that it will be there waiting. The child is encouraged to follow it, which can at times be scary, but can lead to new things. Happiness is characterized by a pink amorphous figure, and changes sizes and places suggesting the many different ways it can be found. The illustrations' blue lines are soothing, and matted fluorescent color accents of yellow, green and pink add to the sense of joy in happy moments. Conscientious of building social and emotional skills, the omniscient narrator tells the child, "You can't feel happy all the time," but if you are feeling lost or overwhelmed, "Just breathe." VERDICT For those seekign titles that support social emotional learning, this is a gentle reminder of where happiness begins.-Danielle Jones, Multnomah County Lib., OR

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