The Happiest Kid - by Sarah Bagley Steele (Hardcover)

About the Book

When joyful Sally wakes up with a gray cloud hanging over her head, she spends the day trying to hide it, but she soon realizes everyone feels sad sometimes, and that is okay.

Book Synopsis

What's the happiest kid supposed to do when she wakes up not feeling happy? A reassuring picture book debut about recognizing sadness and talking about big feelings.

Sally is usually the happiest kid. She wakes up every morning with a bright sun shining over her bed, and she knows it's going to be a good day. But one day she wakes up feeling different and there's a gloomy cloud hanging over her instead. She doesn't know why it's there, but she doesn't want anyone to see it--not her parents, not her teacher, and not her friends--so she hides it away. But as the day goes on, the cloud grows too big and heavy for her to carry, and Sally must find the courage to let it out. In this sweet story, Sarah Bagley Steele, Elsa Pu Si Lo, and Clarice Cai offer a gentle reminder that everyone feels sad sometimes, and that's okay.

Review Quotes

A gentle, reassuring picture book that helps children to recognise and normalise sadness and talk about big feelings. -Little Parachutes

The narrative has been carefully created to be both engaging and accessible for young children. -Little Parachutes

About the Author

After a career producing theater, Sarah Bagley Steele turned her attention to her own writing and fell in love with the wonder of children's books. When not writing stories, Sarah loves devising inventive activities for kids. She lives in Brooklyn, New York with her husband, two children, and rascal puppy.

Elsa Pu Si Lo is an illustrator from Macau, China. She has a master's degree in Children's Book Illustration from Cambridge School of Art. As an animal lover, Elsa enjoys using gouache, crayons, and ink to create animal characters that are fun, funny, and full of energy.

Clarice Yunyi Cai is an artist based in Tokyo, Japan who does oil and experimental painting. When not working on her art, she is pursuing a PhD at Musashino Art University.