What do you think?
Rate this book
If You're Happy and You Know It!
Here's a new take on the popular song known to every child. In this version, a collection of animals put their own twist on the words. A new version that stresses individuality and won't fail to amuse every child.
32 pages, Paperback
First published February 20, 2003
56 people want to read
About the author
Jan Ormerod
152 books21 followersJan Ormerod grew up in the small towns of Western Australia, with three older sisters, and as a child she drew constantly and compulsively. She went to art school and studied drawing, painting and sculpture. After completing her degree, Jan become an Associate of the Western Australian Institute of Technology and Design in Education, taught in secondary schools on enrichment programmes, and lectured in teacher’s college and art schools. Jan's first picture book, "Sunshine", won the Mother Goose Award in 1982 and was highly commended for the Kate Greenaway Medal. Her recent titles include "Ben Goes Swimming", "Emily Dances", "Who’s Who on Our Street?", " A Twist in the Tail" and "Ponko and the South Pole".
http://www.walkerbooks.com.au/authors...
http://www.walkerbooks.com.au/authors...
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
September 12, 2017
I dare you to read this without singing. my sister and i danced all the way through it. it was fun. my mom likes to read it to us too, and yes she sings.
May 31, 2017
I enjoyed reading this book because it is creative in explaining it is okay to be happy and express it in different ways. Not everyone has the same actions to correspond to a feeling such as felling "happy". This book will allow me to teach the children it okay to express happiness in different ways as long as it is respectful and accepted.
March 14, 2017
used to read this to my granddaughter, read to 3 yr old grandson today...he really liked it.
June 1, 2017
1. If You're Happy and You Know It by Jan Ormerod and Lindsey Gardner. 2003
2. Social and Emotion setting. An inspirational book that teaches individuality.
3. This book is colorful and a fun twist on the original song. I would use this book in my classroom by having the children say what about them makes them different from everyone else and I would add those things to the original song.
2. Social and Emotion setting. An inspirational book that teaches individuality.
3. This book is colorful and a fun twist on the original song. I would use this book in my classroom by having the children say what about them makes them different from everyone else and I would add those things to the original song.
October 27, 2017
Cute take on the classic song with different animals and their abilities.
October 13, 2019
Good PSED book
November 6, 2019
Fun to read aloud, with exuberant pictures. Bonus points for some unique friendly animals, like gorilla, hyena, and crocodile!
January 28, 2020
A new take on an old classic - with the animals helping a young girl show all the ways to show that you're happy (e.g. beat your chest, flap your ears, wag your tail, etc.) A fun group read aloud!
April 25, 2020
A super fun and original twist on this classic sing-a-long. The illustrations are very sweet and the message is lovely: everyone shows their happiness in their own way.
April 10, 2021
This book is so fun to read. It is the cutest little spin on all the animals being happy and doing their own thing. It really makes you HAPPY! So shout Hooray!
May 16, 2022
Started with a familiar song, then branches off with no rhyme or rhythm.
November 17, 2023
Cute illustrations on the familiar song and how various animals also show their happiness. The animals are cute.. flapping ears, swishing tails, clacking teeth.
March 14, 2024
I don't like how insulting some of the animals are. That teaches kids bad behavior. That's not how to react when you disagree with someone.
June 30, 2014
If You're Happy and You Know It by Jan Ormerod is a fun and engaging book. It begins with a young girl who is singing because she feels happy. The story follows different animals and the things that they do when they are happy.
I read this to the children in EYFS and got them to stand up and join in with the actions and songs in the story. The children really enjoyed the way that they could not only read the story, but also use their bodies to move in different ways.
This is a great book for younger children and has many uses for the home and classroom. This story would also be good for circle/carpet time as a way for children to discuss emotions, some of the things that make them happy/unhappy and ways in which they can express their mood to let others know how they are feeling.
Overall, I thought this was a really enjoyable book for EYFS and would definitely use it again with another class.
I read this to the children in EYFS and got them to stand up and join in with the actions and songs in the story. The children really enjoyed the way that they could not only read the story, but also use their bodies to move in different ways.
This is a great book for younger children and has many uses for the home and classroom. This story would also be good for circle/carpet time as a way for children to discuss emotions, some of the things that make them happy/unhappy and ways in which they can express their mood to let others know how they are feeling.
Overall, I thought this was a really enjoyable book for EYFS and would definitely use it again with another class.
November 23, 2016
1. Awards the book has received (if any): No awards
2. Appropriate grade level(s): Pre-K - K
3. Original 3-line summary
This musical book explores a variety of ways to show that you are happy. A little girl starts the song by clapping her hands, but soon many other animals chime in to show how they express happiness. By the end of the song the little girl realizes that to express happiness all she has to do is be herself and “do her own thing”.
4. Original 3-line review
The message of this book is great for encouraging children to be themselves. The lively, nature of the text also makes this a great interactive song that children can be goofy with. Lindsey Gardiner’s illustrations are also very colorful and bright.
5. 2-3 possible in-class uses
This book would be a great part of a lesson that discusses self-expression. It could also be incorporated into lessons regarding acceptance, such as how it is okay if we express similar emotions in different ways because we are all unique.
2. Appropriate grade level(s): Pre-K - K
3. Original 3-line summary
This musical book explores a variety of ways to show that you are happy. A little girl starts the song by clapping her hands, but soon many other animals chime in to show how they express happiness. By the end of the song the little girl realizes that to express happiness all she has to do is be herself and “do her own thing”.
4. Original 3-line review
The message of this book is great for encouraging children to be themselves. The lively, nature of the text also makes this a great interactive song that children can be goofy with. Lindsey Gardiner’s illustrations are also very colorful and bright.
5. 2-3 possible in-class uses
This book would be a great part of a lesson that discusses self-expression. It could also be incorporated into lessons regarding acceptance, such as how it is okay if we express similar emotions in different ways because we are all unique.
March 2, 2009
Instead of the well-known lyrics to the popular titled song, this is a story of a girl who feels happy and sings a song. However, various animals tell her other ways to express happiness (dog-wave your tail; elephant-flap your ears; crocodile-snap your teeth; and so on). In the end, the little girl realizes that she can show her happiness in her own unique way which includes all of the ways mentioned throughout the story by the animals and the girl.
This didn't flow as well as it could have and it's hard not to sing the song while reading the story. However, I would add the extra lines necessary to create the flow of the song for each animal. I would highly recommend David A. Carter's pop-up book version of this title or Jane Cabrera's version.
This didn't flow as well as it could have and it's hard not to sing the song while reading the story. However, I would add the extra lines necessary to create the flow of the song for each animal. I would highly recommend David A. Carter's pop-up book version of this title or Jane Cabrera's version.
August 3, 2017
I love this version of the song in book form. It is full of energy and adds an element of fun by adding animals who cannot clap their hands. The dog says "wave your tail" (have children "wag" an arm), the elephant says "flap your ears" (put hands by ears and "flap"), the crocodile says "snap your teeth" (extend arms and "snap" as jaws), the gorilla says "thump your chest", the kangaroo says "jump and bump" and so forth.
Tip: you don't have to do the entire book!
Tip: you can use this with story times featuring any of the animals mentioned.
Tip: now that you've got the idea, you can do this version without the book (which, sadly, is out of print).
Tip: there are still copies available through Amazon.
Tip: you don't have to do the entire book!
Tip: you can use this with story times featuring any of the animals mentioned.
Tip: now that you've got the idea, you can do this version without the book (which, sadly, is out of print).
Tip: there are still copies available through Amazon.
November 1, 2016
Song
1. No award.
2. 4yrs old+
3. A little girl shows off how she expresses happiness. Afterwards several animals mimic her but show how they express their happiness differently.. This book goes along to the tune of "If you're happy and you know it"!
4. I enjoyed reading this version of the nursery rhyme where a bunch of animals expresses their happiness realistically. The pictures throughout the book are very simple, vibrant and engaging for readers to read. I like how there are different text fonts, sizes and placements on the pages to make it fun and goofy.
5. This book could be used in the classroom to learn about rhyming and verb words. Students can also think about how they individually express happiness and can show it to the class.
1. No award.
2. 4yrs old+
3. A little girl shows off how she expresses happiness. Afterwards several animals mimic her but show how they express their happiness differently.. This book goes along to the tune of "If you're happy and you know it"!
4. I enjoyed reading this version of the nursery rhyme where a bunch of animals expresses their happiness realistically. The pictures throughout the book are very simple, vibrant and engaging for readers to read. I like how there are different text fonts, sizes and placements on the pages to make it fun and goofy.
5. This book could be used in the classroom to learn about rhyming and verb words. Students can also think about how they individually express happiness and can show it to the class.
September 7, 2016
Here's another action-packed picture book. We "warmed up" by singing the song without the book, doing three actions and then all three actions together. The children are very familiar with this and enjoy it.
I said, "suppose you were a puppy and couldn't do those actions?" I turned to the first double-page spread featuring an animal's take on the song. We sang through the next six critters, finishing with the kangaroo, of course. We could have skipped two of them and done only three if time were short.
I said, "suppose you were a puppy and couldn't do those actions?" I turned to the first double-page spread featuring an animal's take on the song. We sang through the next six critters, finishing with the kangaroo, of course. We could have skipped two of them and done only three if time were short.
May 12, 2010
This is a great book to use as a storyhour presentation to preschoolers! Following the usual song, a young girl meets various animals that show her how they sing the song using their animal characteristics. With wonderful illustrations, it's easy for kids to follow along with the song, plus they get to mimick the movements and words. A great energetic book for any preschool teacher!
September 20, 2007
When I read this book with my son I sing most of it and my son definitely loves that. The pictures are great too and everytime I pull it off the shelf to read with him he gets a huge smile on his face (he's currently about 9 months).
October 12, 2010
I read this book aloud to a group of daycare children and they loved it. I pretty much sang the song to them and muddled the words of the book a bit along the way, but they acted out the book's words without my having suggested it. They particularly enjoyed screeching.
April 11, 2011
The way the text is written in this book is absolutely fantastic! Most of the text is supposed to read as a song, so this would be great for pre-schoolers or kindergartners. The illustrations are engaging and wonderful, as well.
September 23, 2013
Everyone knows the song 'If you're happy and you know it' but this book is a cute twist on it where animals put their own spin on the words. In the end, the girl learns you can be happy and express that in her own way.
This book would be a great example of rhyming and repetition.
This book would be a great example of rhyming and repetition.
February 11, 2014
This book starts off with a little girl singing because she was happy. She clapped her hands and then it goes on to tell what different animals do when they are happy. I think it a great book for younger children and it would be fun for them to follow along and sing.
December 26, 2014
Liked the use of a familiar song and the variations of how "happy" is expressed. The hyena giggled--a nice surprise; and of course the toucan HAS to make some gesture utilizing its beak...lol. Cute book.
August 22, 2008
different animals do different things when they are happy. can be sung/read. good for storytime to get the kids involved.
July 2, 2008
This book goes very well when teaching about feelings or using the song "if you're happy and you know it..."
July 17, 2008
We didn't like this book. The text doesn't rhyme and there's NO rhythm. It was just plain awkward to read. My husband also commented on how he didn't like to read it out loud.
November 25, 2008
Easy to add lots of action when telling.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews