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The Happy Book

by Andy RASH
illus. by Andy Rash. 40p. Viking. Feb. 2019. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9780451471253.
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PreS-Gr 1— This clever, metafictional story uses doorways and page turns to navigate the world of feelings, and cheerfully shows that it's okay to feel various emotions, and that it's helpful to talk about feelings with each other. "Happy" Camper and "Happy as a" Clam are best friends. Together, they make up a sunshiny, yellow "Happy Book." But when Clam bakes them a friendship cake and Camper selfishly eats it all, Camper finds that the next page is the beginning of "The Sad Book." In this book, Clam sulks and reflects in blue tones, which frustrates Camper, who finds himself subsequently in the "The Angry Book." Rash's thickly lined cartoon illustrations are accessible and packed with expression and bold detail. The dialogue is playfully framed in speech balloons.
VERDICT This interactive offering is recommended for one-on-one sharing or as a catalyst for group discussion. A welcome, good-natured addition to titles on the topic of feelings.
Reviewed by Brianne Colombo, Fairfield Free Public Library, NJ , Mar 01, 2019

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