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When You Are Happy
When you are afraid
I will take your hand
and not let go--
In this delightful and lyrical text by renowned children's author Eileen Spinelli, a young girl finds reassurance from all of her family members and learns that love complements every mood. Coupled with dazzling art by illustrator Geraldo Valério, her words become a beautiful reminder of the care and comforts of unconditional love.
I will take your hand
and not let go--
In this delightful and lyrical text by renowned children's author Eileen Spinelli, a young girl finds reassurance from all of her family members and learns that love complements every mood. Coupled with dazzling art by illustrator Geraldo Valério, her words become a beautiful reminder of the care and comforts of unconditional love.
40 pages, Hardcover
First published April 11, 2006
About the author
Eileen Spinelli
141 books102 followersEileen Spinelli is an award-winning children's book author from southeastern Pennsylvania. She has written over 100 picture books and novels for children. Her husband is Jerry Spinelli, who also writes books for children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
April 3, 2018
This is one of the few times when I thought that the art style did not match up with the text of the book. The book is a poems that addresses several kinds of feelings in a low-key, quiet tone; but the illustrations are garish, cartoon-like, and too energetic for the lyrical words. The words really needed a quieter touch.
February 10, 2015
A delightful book!
"I will outleap the frog,
outbuzz the bee,
outwink the firefly."
"I will outleap the frog,
outbuzz the bee,
outwink the firefly."
September 10, 2017
This is a picture book about having someone there for you, someone (the illustrations show a mother figure) who loves and cares for you infinitely. It describes constantly being there for the child in every possible mood and situation. It's a bit goofy and creative with some of the quotations, "...should you want something- warm soup, chamomile tea, painted rainbows..." and sometimes take a second read to understand the depth of the book's written words but in the end, it is a sweet story about a motherly figure caring for her child.
April 21, 2024
I love this book so much! It’s a beautiful, poetic promise to those we love that we WILL love them responsively, with attention to what they need and who they are. That we will rejoice with them and weep with them and search for them and FIND THEM! Buy this book to share with someone you love.
January 24, 2018
This book is absolutely beautiful! The pictures are delightful, and the words actually made me tear up! My 3.5 year old loved it - especially the detail in the illustrations!
February 8, 2019
The concept of a love song of a parent comforting their child is nice. There are some creative settings. However the art style and sacherine tone are distasteful to this reader.
Read
June 27, 2020很棒
November 12, 2023
My favorite book to read to my baby. The poetry is gorgeous.
November 10, 2016
Nice sentiments about emotional support. Kinda goofy pictures though.
March 3, 2017
A poetic text of family love in times of being sad, sick, lonely, afraid, tired, lost, and lastly, happy. Using bold ,mostly warm, painted colors the illustrator draws the attention of children. The colors correspond with emotions working with the overall theme that can teach children the ways to care for one another in the ups and downs. Probably good for showing sensitivity to others feelings in a classroom.
September 19, 2016
Oh my! There is so much to love about this book. I love the language. It is a pure expression of those bursts of heart-tying love you feel for the most special people in your life.
The illustations add a whole other level too. A beautiful level that's unstated but clearly tied with the text. At the beginning, there is a family tree, and on each spread, the sentiments are expressed between varying family members. I warmly enjoyed reading it through and thinking of each verse applying to my special someone(s), but when I noticed the family members I appreciate it differently. The connection of family, the give and take between generations and how we can be there for each other (like on this page, the girl/"you" of the story is with her little bro and sister: "when you are grumpy. . . I will lift my shirt and show you my belly button until your laughter spurts and giggles and spills like creek water across the empty sky.")
And then the wonderful conclusion showing how when you are happy, it's infectious and expanding. And when you are together, happiness is freed.
My fav: "when you are cold, I will weave you a blanket from leftover sun." (M. Grandmother)
Also: 'I will watch you warmly until I become the firelight dancing in your eyes." (Dad)
"When you are sick, I will sit by your bed quietly waiting in case you should want. . . Poems piled like pillows around your head." (Mom and Dad and dog and moon)
"When you are lonely, I will show up on your doorstep. . . I will whisper 'I love you' until your loneliness grows wings and flies off like a silken bird." (P. Grandmother)
The illustrations add their own stories too (I am glad I got over my initial aversion because of the loopy arms to look more closely.) There is a mother and baby doll on each spread, giving you more to look at and imagine. And the moon is a character (prob worth its own analysis and essay) and the pets and the trees and the toys. That communicates to me that heightened sense of the world when you are loved and sharing love, like everything is wonderful and "for" you.
I want to give this book to every one I love. Just wonderful.
My library copy has been appropriately mutilated by loving little hands. I could spend hours with this book, and I am 53!
The illustations add a whole other level too. A beautiful level that's unstated but clearly tied with the text. At the beginning, there is a family tree, and on each spread, the sentiments are expressed between varying family members. I warmly enjoyed reading it through and thinking of each verse applying to my special someone(s), but when I noticed the family members I appreciate it differently. The connection of family, the give and take between generations and how we can be there for each other (like on this page, the girl/"you" of the story is with her little bro and sister: "when you are grumpy. . . I will lift my shirt and show you my belly button until your laughter spurts and giggles and spills like creek water across the empty sky.")
And then the wonderful conclusion showing how when you are happy, it's infectious and expanding. And when you are together, happiness is freed.
My fav: "when you are cold, I will weave you a blanket from leftover sun." (M. Grandmother)
Also: 'I will watch you warmly until I become the firelight dancing in your eyes." (Dad)
"When you are sick, I will sit by your bed quietly waiting in case you should want. . . Poems piled like pillows around your head." (Mom and Dad and dog and moon)
"When you are lonely, I will show up on your doorstep. . . I will whisper 'I love you' until your loneliness grows wings and flies off like a silken bird." (P. Grandmother)
The illustrations add their own stories too (I am glad I got over my initial aversion because of the loopy arms to look more closely.) There is a mother and baby doll on each spread, giving you more to look at and imagine. And the moon is a character (prob worth its own analysis and essay) and the pets and the trees and the toys. That communicates to me that heightened sense of the world when you are loved and sharing love, like everything is wonderful and "for" you.
I want to give this book to every one I love. Just wonderful.
My library copy has been appropriately mutilated by loving little hands. I could spend hours with this book, and I am 53!
August 11, 2021
In circle time
"This months theme is I Have Feelings. We will be learning about different emotions and will be encouraged to be more aware of how we interact with our friends in a variety of activities. This week we will be learning about Happy and Sad. Today we talked about feeling happy and the different things that make us happy. We read our book called "When You Are Happy" and talked about the different things we do that makes us happy. We did our letter name recognition activity where the children tried to spell out their name and did a great job (some with teacher help, others on their own😀). Of finalize group time we sang songs including " if you're happy and you know it" 😀"
"This months theme is I Have Feelings. We will be learning about different emotions and will be encouraged to be more aware of how we interact with our friends in a variety of activities. This week we will be learning about Happy and Sad. Today we talked about feeling happy and the different things that make us happy. We read our book called "When You Are Happy" and talked about the different things we do that makes us happy. We did our letter name recognition activity where the children tried to spell out their name and did a great job (some with teacher help, others on their own😀). Of finalize group time we sang songs including " if you're happy and you know it" 😀"
July 15, 2015
In spite of putting this book on my "it's-a-perfect-book" shelf, I have to tell you that the illustrations DO NOT thrill me. I love the words enough to make up for the chaotic, crayon-y illustration style by Geraldo Valerio. This book is nothing less than a love letter from a parent to his or her child. Listen:
When you are sick,
I will sit by your bed
quietly waiting
in case you
should want something -
warm soup, chamomile tea,
painted rainbows,
poems piled like pillows
around your head.
Perfection, right?
When you are sick,
I will sit by your bed
quietly waiting
in case you
should want something -
warm soup, chamomile tea,
painted rainbows,
poems piled like pillows
around your head.
Perfection, right?
January 15, 2009
Just a great happy book for children (and adults!)My daughter-in-law Rachel found this in her library in Longmont and gave a copy to Jana. Then I ordered a copy and gave it to my grand-daughter Ella (Spencer and Rachel's daughter). I have looked at more books by Eileen Spinelli and by Jerry Spinelli and have decided that I want to read them all!
January 25, 2014
In this delightful and lyrical text by renowned children's author Eileen Spinelli, a young girl finds reassurance from all of her family members and learns that love complements every mood. Coupled with dazzling art by illustrator Geraldo Valério, her words become a beautiful reminder of the care and comf..
April 25, 2008
I have not really taken the time to add children's books to my book list, but I just had to add this one. I really enjoyed this sweet book about the nature of our love for special people in our lives. I loved it.
October 27, 2013
Book about unconditional love from family. Adults as well as children can experience much sentiment reading this. I especially loved the whimsical illustrations. The pictures seem to come from a child's daydream.
January 2, 2015
This book is pure joy! I lingered over each page, wanting to bask in the detailed and enchanting illustrations. Wonderful story to read to a child before bedtime or to remind children how much they are loved.
May 12, 2012
Maura was bored by this book. It's really written to the parents, such as that book I'll LOVE YOU FOREVER (which I dislike b/c it is so sappy). This book is sappy too.
August 19, 2008
I learned that there are many wonderful people in my life who will be there for me no matter what
September 29, 2008
One of m,y favorite kids books! A must read!
November 5, 2008
I just picked this book up at the library because my daughter asked for something pretty. I absolutely adore it. It will be one for our bookshelves. Beautifully poetic.
January 5, 2009
difficult to read without weeping, so touching. from parent to child, reminder of how much we care about our offspring. not for readaloud to groups--definitely for family sharing.
September 29, 2009
very lyrical language. expresses love of parent for child.
April 23, 2010
I liked this book! The pictures are so colorful and intriguing! It made me think about all the emotions we can feel and what makes me happy.
April 21, 2010
Although a bit long, this book is beautifully lyrical with poetic expressions made by adult family members to reassure a child in the family, that their love will always be there for support.
March 30, 2011
For the parent of any moody child...the words and illustrations are invigorating.
June 25, 2025
The captivating colors, whimsically happy illustrations and poetical illusions make for a sweet parent/child experience. (I do think the belly button page brings it down a notch.)
June 22, 2012
I think I enjoyed this one more than my son. Felt like a spoken word poem.
August 28, 2012
Most beautiful children's book I read when I was not a child.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews