Yay!

by Jessica Kulekjian

Overview

A joyous picture book celebrating all of life's moments, whether big or small.

What reason to say “yay” will you discover today?

Life is full of moments to celebrate! Whether you win big or learn a tough lesson, get lucky or need to try again, have a big crowd cheering for you or are on your own, say YAY!

This joyful picture book is the perfect gift for little loved ones at graduations, birthdays, and just to say I love you.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781547609215
Publisher:	Bloomsbury USA
Publication date:	04/01/2025
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	9.80(w) x 9.70(h) x 0.50(d)
Age Range:	3 - 6 Years

About the Author

Jessica Kulekjian first discovered her love for storytelling during a young author's contest in elementary school. Even though she lost (three times!), she didn't give up writing. After years of practice, and with lots of encouragement from family, friends, teachers, and other storytellers, Jessica became the author of picture books, including First Notes of Spring and Before We Stood Tall: From Small Seed to Mighty Tree. Jessica has an MA in teaching and works at a public charter school, supporting homeschooling families. She lives with her husband and three kids in Central California. Connect with her at jessicakulekjian.com, on Instagram @jessicakulekjian, and Twitter @jesskulekjian.

Zara González Hoang is a picture book author and illustrator. She grew up in a little bungalow in the frozen tundra of Minnesota. Surrounded by snow she spent her days dreaming, doodling and listening to the colorful stories of her Dad's life growing up in Puerto Rico while trying to figure out where she fit in as a mixed-race Latina Jew in a sea of Scandinavians. These days, she lives outside of DC in a magical suburban forest with her Mad Man husband, human-shaped demons and curly-coated corgi. She still spends her days dreaming and doodling, but now instead of listening to stories, she's starting to tell some of her own. Connect with her at zaralikestodraw.com and @zarprey on Instagram and Twitter.

Editorial Reviews

A celebratory, visually engaging book that highlights resilience and affirmation, this is perfect for libraries looking to inspire an uplifting sense of “can-do” in young readers.” —School Library Journal, starred review

“This picture book is one to be read again and again.” —Kirkus Reviews

“Poised to offer big encouragement, the creators' rallying takeaway resounds: YAY!” —Publishers Weekly

From the Publisher

2025-02-01
An exuberant celebration of all things “yay!”

This picture book is one to be read again and again—at storytime, at home, at kindergarten or preschool graduations, and whenever children need encouragement or simply want to toot their own horns. Kulekjian’s joyful, affirming words beg to be read aloud but are also suitable for independent reading; youngsters will cheer for their reading successes with “Yays” of their own. Hoang’s playful, vibrant illustrations build on the text’s open-ended statements about trying hard, triumphing, and learning from failure. She depicts specific scenarios with a cast of characters diverse in terms of race, ability, and body type. A spread that reads “Sometimes you win” and “Sometimes you learn” on facing pages depicts a pair of children enjoying cupcakes while surrounded by baking ingredients and materials; the kids turn a queasy green on the following page after eating from a less successful batch of homemade cookies. Other scenes show children starting school, dancing ballet, climbing mountains, playing board games, running races, playing on a jungle gym, engaging in science experiments, and wearing robes and mortarboards for a graduation.

What else is there to say? Yay!(Picture book. 2-6)

Kirkus Reviews