Smile a Lot!

by Nancy Carlson

A frog explains how smiling is a great way to get through life's ups and downs.

Genres: Picture Books, Spanish Literature, Fiction, Childrens, Kids

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2002

Reviews

[Deyanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

From the other reviews I gather that this book is a love/hate experience for many. I loved the premise that we choose how we respond to situations and attitude does matter. Looking for a few books for a literature circle for grandchildren in order to introduce summer reading selections, this will be a good addition. The day I picked it up from the library, a granddaughter sitting in the car starting reading it and laughing. That was a positive indicator for me that this will be a good choice.

[Nichole · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a book about having a positive outlook and trying to invite positivity into your life.

[Ashley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good concept of having a positive outlook, but, yeah, frog boy is a bit manipulative and seems to think he'll get his way if he just smiles. That's not something I want to teach my kiddos.

[Suzanne Lorraine Kunz Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Want a book to help teach the benefits of having a positive attitude to children. Here it is. Highly recommended!

[Jennifer · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was just meh for me. It would work far better as a one-on-one read with a kid who needs it than in story time.

[Eliza Buell · Rating 5 out of 5]

#1
I read "Smile A Lot!" by Nancy Carlson. "Smile A Lot!" is a wonderful book about how smiling through any situation makes life a lot more enjoyable, not only for you, but for everyone around you. The author gives examples throughout the book that children usually would complain about doing, and states that if you smile through the situations that one usually would not want to smile about, it turns out to not be so bad in the end. For example, the author states that if your mother makes oatmeal with prunes in it for breakfast, smile and ask if tomorrow she can make chocolate chip pancakes! The author gives more examples of using positivity to get through tough situations with teachers, friends, bullies, sports and more.
The major theme throughout this book is positivity. If one stays positive through any situation or experience, it is a lot easier to get through it and will be rewarding in the long run. She gives examples of smiling through soccer practice and having to run a lot, and in the end the coach might start you as forward for the next game. She also gives the example that sometimes one might not do so well on a spelling test as one would like, but if you smile through it, it will motivate you to study hard and do well on the next test. Staying positive through any situation is an important lesson for any individual no matter the age.
I gave this book a five star rating because it sends an important life lesson to anyone who reads it.
I really enjoyed the book because it portrays a lesson that my parents have taught me throughout my life about staying positive in any situation. Learning this lesson at a young age has helped me through so much and has taught me not to stress or get angry, because if you smile and stay positive, everything will work out in the end.
I would recommend this book because it teaches children to smile. In the classroom it is easy for young children to complain or view school and other things in life as negative things. Children are very influenced by one another and if one child complains about school, then other children begin to be influenced by that same attitude. If we teach our students to keep at positive attitude about school and other things that they do not have interest in doing or find difficult at a young age, then they will continue to learn to view things in a positive way throughout life.

[Mandy J. Hoffman · Rating 1 out of 5]

MY REVIEW:

Smile A Lot! is a cute book with what seems to be a really cute storyline. It's all about how smiling makes your day better, makes friends easier, and makes bad situations better. While all of that may be true, the book also gives examples of deciding to play on the monkey bars when the swings are full and "smile a lot" so that the kids will think you are having more fun than they are and then the swings will open up and you can swing. In reality, this is teaching children to smile to get their way. It's manipulating.

Most of the book is okay, but there is enough that represents manipulation that I would rather not read this to my kids.

[Britley Madsen · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Smile a Lot!" is about a frog who smiles in each situation. Good and bad things could happen and he will always smile. This book uses a lot of bright colors. The tone is happy and cheerful. The texts are at the bottom while the pictures are on the top of each page. The texts are in white space. The reader is able to see how the pictures and texts work together. A child who can read at an intermediate reading level could read this book. This book teaches children to be positive in every situation.

[Heidi-Marie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not what I thought the book would be. It's more of a bunch of situations in which the frog chooses to have a good attitude about something not-so-good, and encouraging the reader that the good attitude helps one to feel better and may lead to something becoming better after all. Some humor was put in, but it felt forced to me. A good behavioral book for young ages.

[Meghan Hunt · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an adorable book. The main character is a frog and the illustrations are very fun. Little frog learns that by smiling a lot he can cope better with all the good things and bad things that come his way. He can get the breakfast he wants, make friends easily, foil bullies, and reach his various other goals.

[Glady · Rating 2 out of 5]

This little frog approaches every situation with a smile in hopes that it will help him get through things. You follow him through all the happenings of the day. Smiling gives this little frog courage! In my opinion, the story wasn't my favorite. The illustrations were a bit busy, but had a lot to illustrate. They didn't seem as complementary as they could have been.

[Shawna Kopp · Rating 4 out of 5]

You could use this book in your classroom to help your students stay positive and motivated. Let them think of situations they don't like to be in or places they hate and ask them how a smile might make these situations better and more fun!

[Kathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute book to read about being positive and happy.

[Meadow · Rating 1 out of 5]

Hazel usually likes stories that I despise but we both agree on this one. The story doesn't flow and is kind of weird. Cute pictures, however.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved with book with such a positive message about smiling through your troubles to make them easier to bear! Positive message and colorful pictures!

[Teri · Rating 4 out of 5]

We read this in both Enlish (Smile a Lot) and Spanish. I like the reptition of "Sonrie!"

[John]

FUN beginning reader text, especially for storytimes....

[Ava · Rating 3 out of 5]

Encouraging and inspiring book. It reminds children to smile and be thankful. The book encourages them to do their best and to keep trying even if they do not succeed the first time!

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review to follow

[Kristin Sprague · Rating 5 out of 5]

have you ever seen a frog smile?

[The Book Box]

I picked this book out at the library because I loved the cover! Mama read it to me and my brother; it had a nice, positive message.