When I Smile: A Book of Kindness

by Jo Witek, Christine Roussey (Illustrator)

Overview

A sweet interactive picture book about all the things a smile can do, from author Jo Witek and illustrator Christine Roussey, the bestselling creators of In My Heart.

With charming text, bright full-color illustrations, and irresistible die-cut shapes that allow readers to peek through to the next page, When I Smile shows the power and gift of a smile.

One girl discusses the power of a smile and the many different smiles she gives to those around her throughout the day. There are soft, sleepy smiles that greet a new day; goofy smiles with her best friend; and even playful, supportive smiles, which help her sister when she’s feeling down.

The Growing Hearts series celebrates the milestones of a toddler’s emotional development, from overcoming fears and expressing feelings to welcoming new siblings.

Read them all!
Hello in There!: A Big Sister’s Book of Waiting
In My Heart: A Book of Feelings
Brave As Can Be: A Book of Courage
All My Treasures: A Book of Joy
In My Room: A Book of Creativity and Imagination
With My Daddy: A Book of Love and Family
My Little Gifts: A Book of Sharing
My Tree and Me: A Book of Seasons
When I Smile: A Book of Kindness

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781419769160
Publisher:	Abrams Appleseed
Publication date:	11/14/2023
Series:	Growing Hearts
Pages:	30
Product dimensions:	9.80(w) x 10.00(h) x 0.60(d)
Age Range:	2 - 4 Years

About the Author

Jo Witek and Christine Roussey are the author/illustrator team behind the Growing Hearts series, including In My Heart, Hello in There!, Brave As Can Be, All My Treasures, In My Room, With My Daddy, My Little Gifts, and My Tree and Me. They both live in France.

Editorial Reviews

"Fans of the creators' In My Heart will smile on reading this one. Such a warm message might turn some frowns upside down."—Kirkus

From the Publisher

2023-09-09
Fans of the creators'In My Heart(2014)and its related titles will smile on reading this one.

The ninth entry in the popular Growing Hearts series by this author/illustrator team is, unsurprisingly, another book about feelings, mostly positive ones. This book especially recalls My Little Gifts(2017): It presents a smile as a gift to oneself as well as to others. The narrator/main character (who appears to be well past the toddler stage) reflects on the many different types of smiles and their uses. A “breakfast smile” says good morning; a friend’s smile initiates an exchange of wacky facial expressions; a shy or nervous smile can be partly hidden by one’s hands; smiles can smooth social interactions and repair breaches between friends. En route to school, the protagonist is also the recipient of a smile from little sister Lili, and the narrator, who suffers from academic anxiety, needs that reassurance. Also, of course, a smile can express love. Smiling makes the narrator happy, and the last page asks an engaging question: “How do you feel when you smile?” Whimsical line drawings on a flat field are interspersed with saturated-color graphics; some drawings represent the siblings and their cat, while others are quite abstract. On every page, a big half-circle suggests a very generous grin.

Such a warm message might turn some frowns upside down. (Picture book. 4-6)

Kirkus Reviews