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Get Happy
Tease less . . . tickle more!
Shout less . . . sing more!
Worry less . . . wonder more!
With a cheerful message about sharing, giving, and being kind to others, Get Happy will show any child how to turn a frown into a giggle, spread the joy around, and live life to the fullest. Perfect for the youngest of readers, it won't be long before everyone knows how to get happy!
Shout less . . . sing more!
Worry less . . . wonder more!
With a cheerful message about sharing, giving, and being kind to others, Get Happy will show any child how to turn a frown into a giggle, spread the joy around, and live life to the fullest. Perfect for the youngest of readers, it won't be long before everyone knows how to get happy!
32 pages, Hardcover
First published June 1, 2011
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
November 5, 2011
17 October 2011 GET HAPPY by Malachy Doyle and Caroline Uff, ill., Walker, June 2011, 28p., ISBN: 978-0-8027-2271-3
"Life is very short and there's no time for fussing and fighting my friends"
-- Lennon/McCartney
"Just kicking down the cobblestones
Looking for fun and feeling groovy"
-- Paul Simon
Everything seems pretty darned difficult these days. There is such a terrible schism out in the world with widespread polarization, the economy in tatters, and people actually rooting for the failure of the President. I got some really bad personal news yesterday, and it made me feel old; makes me think longingly of peers in the publishing and library biz who are younger and busy taking maternity leaves; makes me wish even more that I was back on the front side of the 24 years that I've spent in my farmhouse here.
But, instead, the house, like me, is getting old, so I've been busy repairing it. That's why I was out rather early this morning, driving through dark and fog, hauling renovation debris to the Central Disposal site, then heading over to the building supply stores for more materials. And so it was that I eventually found myself sitting in the truck in front of Target, fifteen minutes before the store opened, opening up a box of books that arrived the other day, hoping for something in the box to make me happy.
And there it was! A picture book with 51 words and a bunch of lively young characters of differing hues that offers instructions on how to get happy:
"Squabble less.
Share more!
Sniffle less.
Snuggle more!"
GET HAPPY is a book that is ideal for four-to-eight year-olds, but whose universal message about the means to achieving happiness could so easily make this one of those crossover books that goes viral with TV commentators talking about it and grownups buying it for one another as a present. (This would make a great addition to the messages being shared by the Occupy Wall Street crowd.)
"Grumble less.
Giggle more!
Zone out less.
Zoom around more!"
Complementing Malachy Doyle's poetic text, Caroline Uff's dot-eyed characters repeatedly depict the related emotions so perfectly.
"I don't know how to tell you all just how crazy this life feels."
-- Jackson Browne
It's time folks. Think about making the world a happier place. It starts with me and you. Read this one and then find an audience to read it to.
.
Richie Partington, MLIS
Richie's Picks http://richiespicks.com
BudNotBuddy@aol.com
Moderator http://groups.yahoo.com/group/middle_...
http://slisweb.sjsu.edu/people/facult...
"Life is very short and there's no time for fussing and fighting my friends"
-- Lennon/McCartney
"Just kicking down the cobblestones
Looking for fun and feeling groovy"
-- Paul Simon
Everything seems pretty darned difficult these days. There is such a terrible schism out in the world with widespread polarization, the economy in tatters, and people actually rooting for the failure of the President. I got some really bad personal news yesterday, and it made me feel old; makes me think longingly of peers in the publishing and library biz who are younger and busy taking maternity leaves; makes me wish even more that I was back on the front side of the 24 years that I've spent in my farmhouse here.
But, instead, the house, like me, is getting old, so I've been busy repairing it. That's why I was out rather early this morning, driving through dark and fog, hauling renovation debris to the Central Disposal site, then heading over to the building supply stores for more materials. And so it was that I eventually found myself sitting in the truck in front of Target, fifteen minutes before the store opened, opening up a box of books that arrived the other day, hoping for something in the box to make me happy.
And there it was! A picture book with 51 words and a bunch of lively young characters of differing hues that offers instructions on how to get happy:
"Squabble less.
Share more!
Sniffle less.
Snuggle more!"
GET HAPPY is a book that is ideal for four-to-eight year-olds, but whose universal message about the means to achieving happiness could so easily make this one of those crossover books that goes viral with TV commentators talking about it and grownups buying it for one another as a present. (This would make a great addition to the messages being shared by the Occupy Wall Street crowd.)
"Grumble less.
Giggle more!
Zone out less.
Zoom around more!"
Complementing Malachy Doyle's poetic text, Caroline Uff's dot-eyed characters repeatedly depict the related emotions so perfectly.
"I don't know how to tell you all just how crazy this life feels."
-- Jackson Browne
It's time folks. Think about making the world a happier place. It starts with me and you. Read this one and then find an audience to read it to.
.
Richie Partington, MLIS
Richie's Picks http://richiespicks.com
BudNotBuddy@aol.com
Moderator http://groups.yahoo.com/group/middle_...
http://slisweb.sjsu.edu/people/facult...
September 5, 2018
Get Happy by Malachy Doyle is a picture book that is intended for elementary school age children. This book is about how we should worry less, fight less, etc.... and instead, we should GET HAPPY! I gave this book five stars because I believe reading this will encourage kids to be happy and to not worry, argue, and all of the rest. The illustrations had bright colors and that will attract the children to look at the book and to pay attention to what it is saying. This book is very simplistic in the ideas of it, and that is perfect for this age group of intended readers because they seem to lose interest quickly. I would use this book in the classroom if my students were having a bad day, so we could hopefully reverse their attitudes.
March 11, 2015
I thought this book would be a good one to teach children that happiness is a choice. We all go through rough patches in our life but it is ultimately our choice whether or not we decide to be happy. We can't control how other people act and we can't always control what happens in our life but we can control how we react to these things. One thing that is always constant is our ability to choose how we feel at any time during our lives. It is important to teach kids this principle because it could really affect the way they look at life and their outlook on their ability to be happy and successful.
July 24, 2011
Get Happy is a wonderful story that teaches kids how they can be happier by turing their frowns into giggles, squabbling to sharing, shouting to sharing, worrying to wondering and so much. This brightly colored, cutely illustrated book will capture the attention of toddlers and younger children. It's a fabulous teaching tool for parents, teachers and just about anyone who is around younger children. I adore the illustrations and the simple words and highly recommend picking this book up today!
August 17, 2018
Very quick and easy read. Colorful. Appropriate. Comparative. Squabble less, share more. Sniffle less, snuggle more. Grumble less, giggle more... rich vocabulary well illustrated. Lends itself to multiple reads with very young children to promote independent "reading" and fosters positive self-confidence development. Recommended.
October 7, 2011
I really loved the message this book teaches kids they can turn their frowns into smiles, and their tears into giggles. It's a fabulous book to have for preschool aged kids. My full review can be found on MKs http://mundiekids.blogspot.com/2011/0...
September 13, 2017
Get Happy is a book about alternatives to negative actions children frequently take. It is simple and appealing. I thin it is such a good book for babies getting read to all the way up to preschool age. I would use this in a lower age room in a daycare or with my own children.
October 12, 2011
Play the Partridge Family song after reading this one aloud.
March 8, 2012
Very short and sweet, comparing positive and negative feelings.
November 20, 2013
Great for young readers! Only having a few words on each page makes it easy and rewarding to the kids!
February 27, 2014
I want this book for my future children! Great and sweet way of teaching children how to behave well and how to spend there time so they can find life to the fullest.
March 1, 2016
I was debating whether to give this book 4 stars because some of the difficult words in it and lack of rhythm, but the message and pictures made up for it...hence the 5!
May 2, 2016
This is a good book for young readers. It is about being happy instead of being grumpy.
June 20, 2016
I like it! I would buy it for my kids and my friends.
February 1, 2017
Worry less...Wonder more!
August 16, 2020
I find a few things wrong with this book.
1. While the pictures are very kid friendly and likable, the text is not easy for little kids to comprehend.
2. Very short phrases that don't carry any meaning without understand what the situation is.
3. What's wrong with screaming and crying? It's a part of the childhood and kids need to learn to express those feelings. Do you expect your child to smile when they get hurt? What the book should teach is how to deal with the feelings, not how to flip them.
4. The substance of this book is very poor, which can only give kids more negative ideas and flip them into positive. It would've been more educational and helpful if it was all presented in a situational way, and explained why.
5. Back to my point #4, the book should teach more why and how, it's not an instruction manual how to be happy, unless your child is a robot.
1. While the pictures are very kid friendly and likable, the text is not easy for little kids to comprehend.
2. Very short phrases that don't carry any meaning without understand what the situation is.
3. What's wrong with screaming and crying? It's a part of the childhood and kids need to learn to express those feelings. Do you expect your child to smile when they get hurt? What the book should teach is how to deal with the feelings, not how to flip them.
4. The substance of this book is very poor, which can only give kids more negative ideas and flip them into positive. It would've been more educational and helpful if it was all presented in a situational way, and explained why.
5. Back to my point #4, the book should teach more why and how, it's not an instruction manual how to be happy, unless your child is a robot.
September 30, 2023
Just in case your two-year-old hasn't yet been given enough self-help books, here's one.
How to "Get Happy"?
Grumble less.
Giggle more.
You get the idea. Maybe after finishing this book, you can improvise witty variations on the theme of less and more. Such as: Simper less. Scowl more.
IN CONCLUSION
Malachy Doyle has found a way to start improving children from a young age. No doubt, impressive to his intended audience.
Pictures by Caroline Uff helped me decide to rate this book at FIVE STARS.
How to "Get Happy"?
Grumble less.
Giggle more.
You get the idea. Maybe after finishing this book, you can improvise witty variations on the theme of less and more. Such as: Simper less. Scowl more.
IN CONCLUSION
Malachy Doyle has found a way to start improving children from a young age. No doubt, impressive to his intended audience.
Pictures by Caroline Uff helped me decide to rate this book at FIVE STARS.
Read
August 20, 2017Read this with my 4 yo and she keeps asking 'why should I?' in response to the various advice in the book. I personally thought the ideas presented (on how to achieve happiness) makes sense (for eg, 'Zone out less, zoom around more') but my little one may disagree. I did find the illustrations pretty and interesting.
December 19, 2016
A diverse group of children recommends ways to decrease negativity and increase positive experiences in order to be happy.
The pictures by Caroline Uff have a similar sensibility to those by Helen Oxenbury, though most of Uff’s characters are older children, and not babies. I also see some similarities to A Day at the Farm by Severine Cordier and Cynthia LaCroix. The characters have sweet faces, and each page of the book tells a story that illustrates the bit of advice given in the text. The pictures are not particularly memorable, but they suit the overall cheerful message of the story.
I’m not entirely sure of the audience for this book, but I would argue that it’s not babies or toddlers. The subject matter just isn’t very kid-friendly. It sounds almost like a self-help book, with all its advice, and I’m not sure kids this young really need instructions for happiness anyway. It does provide another option for a story time about feelings, as there aren’t many books explicitly about happiness, but it’s not a great option, and I’d probably skip it. There’s nothing wrong with the message of the book; I just think kids would find it boring.
Get Happy is similar in mood and content to many of Amy Krouse Rosenthal’s books, including The OK Book and the Cookies books. It does address some issues that might come up in a classroom setting, so it might work well as a readaloud to reinforce rules in a preschool classroom, but otherwise, it’s really too preachy to be much fun. People looking for books that focus explicitly on the feeling of happiness might be interested in it, but otherwise, it’s not likely to match the needs of too many kids, or their parents.
The pictures by Caroline Uff have a similar sensibility to those by Helen Oxenbury, though most of Uff’s characters are older children, and not babies. I also see some similarities to A Day at the Farm by Severine Cordier and Cynthia LaCroix. The characters have sweet faces, and each page of the book tells a story that illustrates the bit of advice given in the text. The pictures are not particularly memorable, but they suit the overall cheerful message of the story.
I’m not entirely sure of the audience for this book, but I would argue that it’s not babies or toddlers. The subject matter just isn’t very kid-friendly. It sounds almost like a self-help book, with all its advice, and I’m not sure kids this young really need instructions for happiness anyway. It does provide another option for a story time about feelings, as there aren’t many books explicitly about happiness, but it’s not a great option, and I’d probably skip it. There’s nothing wrong with the message of the book; I just think kids would find it boring.
Get Happy is similar in mood and content to many of Amy Krouse Rosenthal’s books, including The OK Book and the Cookies books. It does address some issues that might come up in a classroom setting, so it might work well as a readaloud to reinforce rules in a preschool classroom, but otherwise, it’s really too preachy to be much fun. People looking for books that focus explicitly on the feeling of happiness might be interested in it, but otherwise, it’s not likely to match the needs of too many kids, or their parents.
November 6, 2014
I gave this book a 3/5, because I loved getting to read it, and the pictures. It was a really cute "how to" book. I think it would be fun to teach this book to your children or students. They can learn all of the different ways to be happy or show happiness. From this book, you could talk about lots of different emotions. Definitely use this book as a source for your classroom.
January 13, 2012
Two word phrases give kids hints on how to be happier. Each negative phrase saying not to do something is paired with a positive one, such as "Grumble less. Giggle more." Encourages kids to learn to control their negative feelings.
September 29, 2012
Positive/Negative actions and opposite words are what readers will find in this book. Pictures are big and there are very few words on the page, so younger readers will be able to sit through this story.
June 6, 2013
What do you need to get happy, follow the directions in the book and find out: Sulk less, sparkle more, worry less, wonder more! Written for toddlers- who struggle through the terible twos, but good advice for eveyone. Be fearless, be strong, be happy. Reviewer 15
October 25, 2011
didn't seem that the kids who the illustrations were intended for could really get the concepts of the txt.
April 21, 2016
Really don't love it. Might be better for kids to read to themselves.
August 2, 2011
cute story and illustrations; good advice!
April 30, 2017
Wonderful life long lessons to be learned by toddlers in this board book. Adults, too, could benefit tremendously from a refresher course from this title, for example "squabble less. . .share more.
Read
February 4, 2019This books is a great way to teach little kids (even adults I dare say) how to be happier in life. Not through getting money or having lots of material items but through giving,caring, not fighting, and enjoying your loved ones. We can all learn valuable lessons from this book and be happier by enjoying the little things in life.
February 12, 2019
Basically good mottos to do bad things less and good things more. However, zooming around more is not preferable for me - I’d rather kids played quietly. Also, shouting less- yes, but singing more? Equally annoying.
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews