Layla's Happiness
Layla's Happiness
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★ 2020 Ezra Jack Keats Award Winner for Illustration
★ 2020 Ezra Jack Keats Honor for Writing
★ A Bank Street College of Education Best Children’s Book of 2020
Written by Mariahadessa Ekere Tallie
Illustrated by Ashleigh Corrin
Seven-year-old Layla loves life! So she keeps a happiness book. What is happiness for her? For you?
Spirited and observant, Layla’s a child who’s been given room to grow, making happiness both thoughtful and intimate. It’s her dad talking about growing-up in South Carolina; her mom reading poetry; her best friend Juan, the community garden, and so much more. Written by poet Mariahadessa Ekere Tallie and illustrated by Ashleigh Corrin, this is a story of flourishing within family and community.
ISBN: 978-1-59270-288-6
8.25" (W) x 11.5" (H) • 48 pages • HCJ
AWARDS AND REVIEWS
2020 Ezra Jack Keats Award for Illustration
2020 Ezra Jack Keats Honor for Writing
A Bank Street College of Education Best Children’s Book of 2020
★ “Well-illustrated poetry of the best kind that will leave sunshine in its wake.” — STARRED REVIEW, Kirkus
★ “Tallie honors the many ways children define happiness…A handsome and helpful primer on self-reflection and a mirror to urban black and brown children, this joyous title could be well paired with Samantha Berger’s What If.” — STARRED REVIEW, School Library Journal
“With Corrin’s layered, whimsical illustrations, each page is a snapshot of a simple moment that adds up to an abundant life, urban yet very much in tune with nature. The effect is both laid back and meaningful — an invitation to answer for yourself.” —The New York Times
“Seven-year-old Layla loves a lot of things: nighttime, purple plums, eating spaghetti without a fork, and listening to her parents tell stories and read poems. Both whimsical and firmly rooted in a realistic city setting, this deceptively simple story is packed with beautiful, small moments to cherish. Moreover, Layla’s sunshiny view of existence is infectious, and will inspire kids to share what excites them.” — BookRiot
“When you’re sadder than an Adele song, read Layla’s Happiness. Leave it to a seven year-old to teach you more about happiness than a Positive Psychology expert. Our protagonist, Layla, is all Good Vibes as she bestows the reader with the eyes of a precocious child, seeing the world with delight and wonder, emphasizing a love of family, friends, and nature. The full moon is one of Layla’s favorite things because ‘it sits in the sky like a wish flower’s sister.’ This incredibly swoony book teaches you to relook at your surroundings and appreciate life’s simple pleasures, ie. eating spaghetti sans fork.” —JM Farkas, LitHub