…[a] marvelous debut…With Corrin's layered, whimsical illustrations, each page is a snapshot of a simple moment that adds up to an abundant life, urban yet very much in tune with nature. The effect is both laid back and meaningful…
The New York Times Book Review - Maria Russo
★ "This book’s language clearly reveals the hand of a poet. Tallie’s metaphorical language evokes imagery that encourages young readers to dream and look both within and around them to find their own sources of happiness. Layla marvels that 'the sea reaches into her pocket to give me a sand dollar' and chooses the full moon as her favorite thing because 'it sits in the sky like a wish flower’s sister.' Equally as imaginative as the lyrical text, Corrin’s boldly colored, textured illustrations beautifully capture the buoyant spirit of Layla, a brown girl exuding confidence, comfortable in her own skin—indoors and out. Well-illustrated poetry of the best kind that will leave sunshine in its wake." —STARRED REVIEW, Kirkus
★ “Tallie honors the many ways children define happiness…A handsome and helpful primer on self-reflection and a mirror to urban black and brown children, this joyous title could be well paired with Samantha Berger’s What If .” —STARRED REVIEW, School Library Journal
"A celebration of community, but also individualism, what Layla loves and what makes her happy is so specific to her and her family's experience. In uncertain or challenging times, books like Layla's Happiness are bright spots of inspiration. They carry us through and remind us of the gifts we have. The gifts of people in our lives or small moments in nature or even a favorite color." —The Eric Carle Museum
“When you’re sadder than an Adele song, read Layla’s Happiness. Leave it to a seven year-old to teach you more about happiness than a Positive Psychology expert. Our protagonist, Layla, is all Good Vibes as she bestows the reader with the eyes of a precocious child, seeing the world with delight and wonder, emphasizing a love of family, friends, and nature. The full moon is one of Layla’s favorite things because ‘it sits in the sky like a wish flower’s sister.’ This incredibly swoony book teaches you to relook at your surroundings and appreciate life’s simple pleasures, ie. eating spaghetti sans fork.” —JM Farkas, LitHub "Seven-year-old Layla loves a lot of things: nighttime, purple plums, eating spaghetti without a fork, and listening to her parents tell stories and read poems. Both whimsical and firmly rooted in a realistic city setting, this deceptively simple story is packed with beautiful, small moments to cherish. Moreover, Layla’s sunshiny view of existence is infectious, and will inspire kids to share what excites them." —Book Riot
★ 12/01/2019
PreS-Gr 2— Tallie honors the many ways children define happiness. Seven-year-old Layla, an urban-dwelling brown-skinned girl, narrates in a voice that is authentically childlike and lyrical as she describes the experiences and connections that bring her enjoyment and contentment. She describes interactions with the natural world, special times with her parents and friends, with the small pleasures of autonomy and the deep joys of life connected to others. The urban setting and diverse neighborhood make the title instantly relatable to a broad audience. Handwritten with one entry per page, like a particularly well-made journal or bucket list, Layla's litany of high points is illustrated by Corrin in full-page bleeds. The digital artwork has the feel and appearance of block-print and hand-coloring, with deep tones that serve to anchor and extend the engaging text. The child shares her thoughts about happiness with readers and wraps ups by asking, "What is happiness to you?" VERDICT A handsome and helpful primer on self-reflection and a mirror to urban black and brown children, this joyous title could be well paired with Samantha Berger's What if… .—Lisa Lehmuller, Paul Cuffee Maritime Charter School, Providence
★ 2019-11-24
Seven-year-old Layla, wearing long, thick braids and a bright yellow dress, talks about what makes her happiest: dark purple plums, the full moon, and night's darkness, shedding positive light on what often gets portrayed negatively. Appropriately, Layla's name means "night beauty." Though clearly an urban dweller, Layla loves the outdoors. She climbs trees, hangs out near a stream to hear her dad's stories of his South Carolina childhood, and tends vegetables and feeds chickens in their community garden. She even brings the outdoors inside with a makeshift tent, in which her mom reads poetry aloud to her. This book's language clearly reveals the hand of a poet. Tallie's metaphorical language evokes imagery that encourages young readers to dream and look both within and around them to find their own sources of happiness. Layla marvels that "the sea reaches into her pocket to give me a sand dollar" and chooses the full moon as her favorite thing because "it sits in the sky like a wish flower's sister." Equally as imaginative as the lyrical text, Corrin's boldly colored, textured illustrations beautifully capture the buoyant spirit of Layla, a brown girl exuding confidence, comfortable in her own skin—indoors and out.
Well-illustrated poetry of the best kind that will leave sunshine in its wake. (Picture book. 3-8)
