What Makes YOU Happy?

by Nedra Glover Tawwab, Candice Bradley (illustrator)

By the influential relationship therapist and bestselling author of Set Boundaries, Find Peace, this story will help young kids learn to express their own needs rather than people-pleasing.

Avery loves to make people happy—so much so that she often ignores her own wants and needs. If a friend's favorite color is yellow, she always gives that friend the yellow marker. If someone wants PB&J for lunch, she gives up her own sandwich.

Now, her birthday is coming up and she's having trouble deciding what to do for her party. She knows her friends would love going to an amusement park, so maybe she should ignore the fact that the rides make her feel sick. Her brother loves superheroes, so she's considering having a superhero party. Luckily, her friends help her realize it's OK to do what makes you happy—especially on your own special day. Her birthday party is her best one yet!

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens

40 pages, Hardcover

Published September 23, 2025

About the author

Therapist, NYT Bestselling Author, and Relationship Expert.

Reviews

[Lauren · Rating 3 out of 5]

Trying to get more feelings and emotions books for my son to learn emotional intelligence so I picked one up. It’s a cute book about a little girl who’s a people pleaser and whose friends have to show her how she can actually choose what she wants for her own birthday without making them happy. The message is great but the text and the illustrations were just sort of meh. Overall, would recommend for ages 4 and up and giving it 3/5 stars ⭐️

[Emma & Evelyn Read · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book made my therapist and mom heart so happy. Avery is used to prioritizing everyone and else to make them happy. When her own birthday comes up, she isn’t sure what she even likes because she’s so used to pleasing everyone else. One of her friends helps her realize the importance of Avery being happy and celebrated in a way that fits for her.

At the end of the book there is some information for parents to help them help their kids find their own voice and help them express their needs.

[Ms. Madalyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a wonderful book to help teach children to advocate for themselves and their needs. This is especially good for children, and adults, who lean towards chronic people pleasing. I WISH I'd had this has a kid.

[Darshana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fav quote -

Thinking about others is kind and so is thinking about yourself

[Rebekah · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good book about boundaries and people pleasing.

[Kassandra Philogene · Rating 5 out of 5]

The second grade teacher and I read this book to our students recently and they really enjoyed it!