Yep, that Pharrell Williams. That “Happy”.
I’ll be honest, because it truly is just “that ‘Happy'”, it’s… not a great book. I love the song and we listen to it probably 4 days a week at minimum. If someone were to pick up the book though that didn’t know it, I think approximately zero pages would make sense.
BUT –
The jacket describes it as such:
“The joy in these pages is hard to miss, as kids of all stripes have fun doing everything from riding a hot air balloon into outer space to dancing on clouds, laughing with emojis, and rocking out as a band… Happy! is the very best of childhood imagination and play.”
And you know, it is.
Each page is filled with utterly adorable photographs of children combined with graphics in a way that just oozes whimsy. As a book that pulls on the same strings as Anne Geddes portraits, Happy! is darling.
So I was about to wrap up an entire book review without saying anything glowing about words on pages… and then Pharrell went and wrote this precious letter to the children that read and enjoy the book. In it he says,
“A Happy Helper has a very important job in the world. We love our family and friends so much, we want ot make them smile all the time. It’s cool to bring happiness to someone’s day.”
He goes on to encourage children – and adults alike – to find the ways they can bring happiness to those around them. He talks about the beauty of a smile and the role happiness plays in life on earth – all in a conversational, kid-friendly style.
Pharrell asks the reader to pass the book along and make more people smile, and because the pictures absolutely do that, I think it could be one worth checking out!
Penguin Young Readers is giving away dozens of books during their “12 Days of Picture Books” sweepstakes, including at least 3 copies of Happy! To get in on the fun, head on over to their Facebook page. Even if you don’t enter on a particular day or don’t win, there are lots of great stories being shared on their page this month!
If you’re looking for the perfect gift for a book lover on your list, check out the Penguin Holiday Gift Guide! Browse titles by age, cover, related interests and more. I’ll admit, I just spent way too long scrolling through the page looking at the variety of titles. The guide includes everything from children’s picture books through young adult titles, and even stories I know many adults have benefited from reading.
DISCLAIMER: I was provided a copy of “Happy!” in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Leave a Reply