Reviews. The title of the book itself is encouraging enough for one to start reading. Be Happy To Be You takes a simple idea and drives it home with a lovable character, cute art, and an entertaining story.
I really enjoyed reading this sweet picture book that emphasizes the value of being comfortable in your own skin--or in this case, feathers. The story is creatively written, edited, and beautifully illustrated. I find that artwork can make or break a quality children's book, and the colorful illustrations by Jan Dolby definitely enhanced the story.
Pippa Goodhart has had over 90 books published and is best known for her picture book You Choose and the Winnie the Witch storybooks, which she writes under the name of Laura Owen. Pippa has been longlisted for the Kate Greenaway Award, won the 2011 Mumsnet Children’s Book of the Year for 3-4 Year Olds and was shortlisted for the Young Telegraph Book of the Year award.
Pippa commented on my books:
"I critique a lot of proposed story texts, and I can tell you honestly that it is very rare for me to feel as excited about a text as I feel about these two texts of yours. You’ve got a wonderful writing ‘voice’ that is fresh and fun, creating texts which read out loud with easy pleasing rhythms. Lovely!
These texts are excitingly good. More than that, I’d say that you are clearly somebody who is very much in touch with what small children like and need, and have a fresh approach and a very lovely writing voice. "
Gillyd
Highly recommend
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 31 May 2018
A lovely children’s book that will help encourage them to be happy with who they are. Baby bird is a wonderful character who finds his own strengths and talents after yearning to be like everyone else.
Tony Schofield
An engaging story with an important message
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 7 May 2019
An important message delivered in an entertaining and engaging way. My daughter loved it, me too!
Joe
So if you’re looking for a fun book that addresses self-love, pick this book up!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 15 October 2018
This book is guaranteed to teach children the value and importance of self-love and encourage them to build a foundation for their own well being and happiness.
So if you’re looking for a fun book that addresses self-love, pick this book up!
RAA
A very unambiguous message.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 11 January 2019
A simple story of a little bird who wishes he could hop and run like the other animals whilst he mother repeatedly reassures him to accept his own abilities. The repeated message "be happy to be you" gives the story a clarity of message that other similar picture books sometimes obscure. Reading to groups, children instinctively respond with their own "I'm happy to be me because..." A great book for promoting self-worth to EYFS and KS1 and a nicely illustrated sweet story to boot.
KC 276
This one will make children & parents smile
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 19 May 2020
This is such a great story for everyone to hear & read. There's a lovely message surrounded by such beautiful illustrations that make you excited to see what is coming next. I can imagine young children wanting to read this one over & over again. The animal pictures have such character they way they're created.
The story is an important one but also a simple one: Be Yourself & be happy about it. It's perfectly encouraging in a child's world & applies to every day life.
It's a great one for those learning to read too - easily getting clues for any new words from the pictures.
It's also a fun one to encourage questions and conversation about the story & the pictures.
I'll definitely be sharing this one with Reading Club participants in the future. I'd 100% recommend this to anyone reading to youngsters & encouraging them to enjoy reading.
Dave
A 'Must Have Book' for all young children.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 16 May 2018
What a wonderful children's story! The little bird is adorable. Baby bird wanted to be like his friends and did not recognise his own, individual strengths until one day, he caught a cold. What a lovely way to teach young children to be happy with themselves. My children loved the story and the little baby bird. A must have book for young children.
Diane Hull’s animal picture book for children, Be Happy To Be You!, is a gentle and disarming fable that teaches kids to recognize and be grateful for their own gifts and skills instead of envying others’ abilities. I loved watching as Baby Bird gets excited seeing the frogs, fish and horses, and could understand his frustration at not being able to do what they did so effortlessly. Jan Dolby’s illustrations make this little bird feel so real.
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