This is Happy!

Beautiful picture book from a rising-star author and an acclaimed illustrator about finding happiness in small things.

Paint rainbow skies, plant seeds, smell the earth after it’s been woken up by raindrops, jump in puddles, stargaze on dark evenings, dance your heart out, share a book – and at the end of the day cuddle up and let yourself be held by arms that feel like home. This is Happy. Where do you find yours?

This is a joyful picture book for very young children, full of delight in the world, outdoors and indoors, showing how happiness can be found in the smallest things. The lyrical story and beautiful illustrations encourage children to slow down and use all their senses to notice and enjoy the natural world. Happiness is truly all around us.

"The illustrations are gorgeous, full of detail, humour, and vibrancy... The text is lyrical, simple and tender, instructive but friendly... The productive and interactive activities; the slowing down and focusing on how things feel, smell, appear; the emphasis on wellbeing and family; the lullaby meditative feel of the book; the diverse characters all make this a joyous book to celebrate. This Is Happy! is important and useful for the young child and all the family."

"This book encourages young children to find happiness all around them and appreciate the little things."

"Lyrically and engagingly written by Anna Ross with Debi Gliori capturing the rapturous moments the diverse cast of five families enjoy. Slow down and share this delightful book with the little ones in your life; it’s never too soon to introduce young children to mindfulness. Happiness can be found in the tiniest things, so long as we slow down and look carefully."

Anna Ross is a writer and editor. Her books include Dear Earth, This Love, The Garden of Hope and The Lost Fairy Tales written for Little Tiger Press under the name Isabel Otter. Born in London, she grew up in Herefordshire, has a degree in English from Glasgow University, has taught children in a Cambodian orphanage, and explored the wilds of Patagonia. She lives in Bristol.

Debi Gliori is a Scottish writer and illustrator with more than seventy books to her name and an international following. Her most recent book for Otter-Barry Books is A Cat Called Waverley, winner of the 7-11 Fiction Award in the 2022 English 4-11 Picture book Awards. Debi studied illustration at Edinburgh College of Art and says, “I feel incredibly fortunate to do the thing I love best as my day job.” She lives near Haddington, in Scotland.

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