Miles of Smiles

PreS-Gr 1—Oozing with retro charm, this work depicts a community threaded together by a simple smile. When a fat, pink-cheeked baby smiles at his mother, he sets off a chain reaction of smiles that brighten the days of everyone from a garbage man to a grandmother video-chatting with her granddaughter. Modern touches show that the book takes place today, but its modish, collage-style illustrations, rhyming text, and heartwarming circular narrative harken back to a simpler time. This nostalgic incarnation of the classic circular tale comes as a breath of fresh air. Lovingly crafted with details such as endpapers showing each character in the story arrayed throughout the neighborhood, the book shows just how far a single gesture of kindness and joy can go. Perfect for little ones, this is a title to treasure through the generations.