Gratitude

SUNNY SIDE UP (Clare Helen Welsh, Ana Sanfelippo)

Sunny Side Up (Little Tiger, 2024) is a book which will empower children to choose how they see the world.
This is a CBT inspired book which has positivity and resilience at the centre of its message. We all have bad days and some days are harder than others; this uplifting book aims to develop children’s understanding that difficult moments will pass. This book gives hope to children and adults alike, reminding us that joy can be found even on the hardest days if we look in the right places and try to see things through our sunny-side specs. Through words and images, the message of the impact of a positive mindset is shared in a gentle tone.

This is such an accessible book with joyful artwork, peep through pages as well as cut out and fold out sections. Peep-through and cut out pages in paper-back picture books always bring such joy. This book gives hope in several examples of challenging experiences, drawing upon feeling frightened, facing the unknown and saying goodbye. Definitely a book for my mindfulness and emotional literacy collection.

(Reviewed by Gemma @themindfulbookshelf)

TELL ME SOMETHING HAPPY BEFORE I GO TO SLEEP (Joyce Dunbar, Debi Gliori)

Tell Me Something Happy Before I Go To Sleep (Corgi, 1999) is an oldie but a goodie, still relevant for today’s young audience. Willa can’t sleep and asks her brother Willoughby for help. By exploring the world around them, Willoughby’s gentle guidance helps Willa to see the many gifts she has in her life, and how much she has to look forward to when she wakes. The beautiful images by Debi Gliori cement the wonderful sibling relationship of the two bunnies, and the reassuring, calming words by Joyce Dunbar are perfect for lulling little ones to sleep. A story full of love, reassurance and positivity that has stood the test of time and sure to remain on the ‘often requested’ list.

(Reviewed by Karen Swann, author of The Tale of the Whale)

THANK YOU (Jarvis)

I thank the moon for the night time. I thank the sun for the day. I thank my boots for knowing the way…

There is so much to be thankful for! In this happy and hopeful picture book for the very young, we see the world through a child’s eyes as he thanks all of the things that give him joy – the sun, his bicycle, the jelly in his bowl, and so much more.

In Thank You (Walker, 2024), Jarvis’ beautiful collaged artwork inspires young children to think about what they might like to say ‘thank you’ to - a great ‘first book’ of gratitude.