Happy Right Now - by Julie Berry (Hardcover)

About the Book

"Dealing with emotions can be hard. Children experience the same range of strong feelings as adults, but often don't have the tools to deal with them. This book teaches emotional intelligence with fun, relatable imagery and clever rhymes. Perfect for children, parents, and caregivers who want to learn how to navigate difficult emotions and embrace the bright side of any situation, rain or shine."--

Book Synopsis

An illustrated picture book that teaches the best way to be happy is to embrace the circumstances we find ourselves in each day

Happy Right Now brings a much-needed message to kids: it's great to feel happy, but it's okay to feel sad sometimes too.

Dealing with emotions can be hard. Children experience the same range of strong feelings as adults, but often don't have the tools to deal with them. For children ages 4 to 8, Happy Right Now teaches emotional intelligence with fun, relatable imagery and clever rhymes.

Award-winning author Julie Berry brings a playful bounce to the important lesson that kids don't need to wait for fantastic gifts, school vacations, or sunny days to find joy in the moment. And even if they can't find a way to choose happiness--if the blues are just too strong--Berry provides a series of quick practices to help young readers move through their sadness.

Smartly illustrated by Holly Hatam, Happy Right Now is perfect for children, parents, and caregivers who want to learn how to navigate difficult emotions and embrace the bright side of any situation, rain or shine.

Review Quotes

While most children (and adults) can relate to negative thought patterns, this book may be most helpful for those who experience mild forms of anxiety and depression, the text incorporating cognitive, physiological, and action-based tools to improve mood and combat negativity. --Kirkus Reviews

What contributes most to the story's success is the necessary and reassuring reminder that sadness is inevitable and fleeting, and that it's okay to be sad in the moment while still striving for happiness. VERDICT An excellent picture book about emotional intelligence that is perfect for one-on-one sharing. --School Library Journal

A young girl reminds herself to make a conscious decision every day to find happiness in this feel-good story with an important message for everyone who might be waiting for the rain to clear, or for the weekend to arrive, in order to have fun. -- Foreword Reviews

About The Author

Julie Berry is a prolific author of critically acclaimed books for children, including middle grade and YA novels. Her book The Passion of Dolssa was a 2017 Printz honor title. Julie is active with school visits and conference appearances. For more, see julieberrybooks.com.