By Sue Graves, Illustrations by Desideria Guicciardini
Review by Debra L Scott
I’m Not Happy is one of a new four-book series from Free Spirit Publishing called “Our Emotions and Behaviors”. The other books in the series are: Not Fair, Won’t Share, But Why Can’t I? , and Who Feels Scared? Ben finds that his friends are sad, upset, angry and worried. He also feels unhappy himself. Ben does simple things that fix the problems that beset his friends, but can’t fix his own problem. But as it turns out, the very thing that makes him unhappy makes his Grandma very happy, so that makes him happy in response.
I’m Not Happy is a great little book exploring how simple it can be to find a remedy for the little upsets in life. More importantly, it shows how one child can be helpful to another to make them happy. It also shows that sometimes it’s not a thing that will make you happy again, but the happiness of another. Children at this age level are just starting to learn how to pick up on the feelings of others and how they can actually do something that makes a difference. It may take a bit of work, like the posters he makes to help his friend find her lost dog, or it may take a lot of courage, like standing up to a bully on his friend’s behalf. And sometimes it just means lending a helping hand.
There are a couple places that aren’t clear. When Mike took Tim’s ball, it doesn’t say why Mike decides to give it back except that he ‘felt bad’. I wonder if the author intended Mike to figure this out on his own, or if she meant that Ben, the hero, said something to Mike to encourage him to give it back. The other place is at the very end, where someone returns the lost dog to Ben instead of to Molly. Those are minor errors, but they may be picked up on by a bright child. The teacher/parent would do well to be aware of them and have an answer ready.
After the story, there is a two page story board without words describing a similar situation. Children are encouraged to talk about what is happening in the pictures and answer questions about it. Following this is a teacher/parent guide to the book with tips on how to discuss the issues presented and gives suggested topics for discussion.
The vocabulary of the story is suitable for young readers to sound out by themselves, but not the included instructions which are intended solely for the adult. The illustrations are expressive and simple so that it is easy to see how each character feels about what is happening.
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