My Happy Life

Reviews / Votes

"This simply written chapter book tenderly portrays the happiness of a child whose life is in balance, as well as the colossal, unremitting, inconsolable sorrow of one who is suffering loss. . . . The clarity and simplicity of the writing are balanced by the verve and finesse of Eriksson's captivating illustrations. . . . A quietly compelling book for young readers."-starred, Booklist "The illustrations complement the narrative well, and will enable younger readers to feel a sense of accomplishment for tackling a lengthy chapter book....The difficult subjects are handled gracefully, allowing children to realize that happiness comes and goes, and that everyone has hardships to face." -starred, School Library Journal "To understand the true meaning and value of resilience, look no further than the 20 brief chapters of this early reader...beautifully translated into spare, lyrical prose....As Eriksson's emotionally astute and often endearingly funny pencil drawings show, Dani does indeed have much to be happy about."-starred, Publishers Weekly "The book's open layout, with its plentiful white space, welcomes the new reader, as does the prose style....Ericksson's beautifully composed line drawings are full of personality and emotion, and the whole book speaks of care and artfulness in its production." -The Horn Book Magazine "For young middle grade readers, a new chapter book, 'My Happy Life,' takes up the subject of resilience in such a natural and powerful way, children won't remotely feel like they're reading a manual....If only all early chapter books were this beautifully conceived."-The New York Times Book Review "A sweet read for both children and their parents, who may be grateful at the reminder of emotional complexity lurking behind their children's smiles."-Kirkus Reviews