Layla's Happiness

(Hardback)

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Description

Seven-year-old Layla loves life! So she keeps a happiness book. What is happiness for her For you

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

"Affirmations of black childhood abound, and whimsical wishes float like dandelion fluff. Equally as imaginative as the lyrical text, Corrin's boldly colored, textured illustrations beautifully capture the buoyant spirit of Layla, a brown girl exuding confidence, comfortable in her own skin-indoors and out. Well-illustrated poetry of the best kind that will leave sunshine in its wake." -STARRED REVIEW, Kirkus

Seven-year-old Layla loves life! So she keeps a happiness book. What is happiness for her For you

Spirited and observant, Layla is 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.

Reviews

"This books language clearly reveals the hand of a poet. Tallies metaphorical language evokes imagery that encourages young readers to dream and look both within and around them to find their own sources of happiness. Layla marvels that 'the sea reaches into her pocket to give me a sand dollar' and chooses the full moon as her favorite thing because 'it sits in the sky like a wish flowers sister.' Equally as imaginative as the lyrical text, Corrins boldly colored, textured illustrations beautifully capture the buoyant spirit of Layla, a brown girl exuding confidence, comfortable in her own skinindoors and out.Well-illustrated poetry of the best kind that will leave sunshine in its wake."STARRED REVIEW, Kirkus

Tallie honors the many ways children define happinessA 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 Bergers What If.STARRED REVIEW,School Library Journal

"A celebration of community, but also individualism, what Layla loves and what makes her happy is so specific to her and her family's experience. In uncertain or challenging times, books like Layla's Happiness are bright spots of inspiration. They carry us through and remind us of the gifts we have. The gifts of people in our lives or small moments in nature or even a favorite color."The Eric Carle Museum

When youre sadder than an Adele song, read Laylas 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 Laylas favorite things because it sits in the sky like a wish flowers sister. This incredibly swoony book teaches you to relook at your surroundings and appreciate lifes simple pleasures, ie. eating spaghetti sans fork. JM Farkas, LitHub

"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, Laylas sunshiny view of existence is infectious, and will inspire kids to share what excites them." Book Riot

Author Bio

Mariahadessa Ekere Tallie was born in Queens, NY. Tallie has performed poetry & taught in the US, Namibia, The Netherlands, Belgium, & England. She has also authored several collections of poetry and is the mother of three galaxies who look like daughters.

Ashleigh Corrin is a graphic designer by day, illustrator by night, residing in Northern VA with her husband. Her talent comes from her late Grandmother who has inspired Ashleigh to serve people's unique stories with creativity. With her illustrations, Ashleigh hopes to contribute to good laughs, nostalgia, vulnerability, transparency, and seeing the light in ourselves and others.