The Happy Day

Krauss gets kids. This is short, simple and lively. The animal characters are sufficiently authentic to please the scientist in me, but at the same time have personalities that a human child can identify with. This book definitely should stay in print, imo.

This is a cute book which creates a feeling of excitement the first time you read it. However, it wasn't a huge hit with us because we live where there's no winter -- we have flowers here all year long -- so it's hard to relate to the excitement.

This is another book what was great. I enjoyed watching all the animals com out of winter hibernation for the big reveal at the end of the book.

“The Happy Day” is a picture book about an event in late winter. The snow is falling and the animals are sleeping. The animals are all the species that would hibernate in the winter. The story tells how each of the types of animals opens their eyes, sniff, and begin to run. They finally stop, laugh and dance. They are “happy” because they have discovered a flower growing in the snow.

Achromatic illustrations fill the pages with details of the animals’ winter habitats. These pictures earned the book the 1950 Caldecott Honor Book award. The story starts slow and peaceful with the animals sleeping. As you read you suddenly are rushing to the discovery with the words “They sniff. They run. They run. They sniff.” The built up show more anticipation ends with a simple discovery that makes you smile. The story offers a message of how we can open our eyes and find so much joy in one simple thing.

In the classroom the book could be used in a science class to assist in a discussion about hibernation. The animals used in the book are easily recognized and shown in the appropriate habitats. Another use of the book as a learning tool could be as an introduction to an art project. Students could be given drawing pencils and shown how to shade the black to gray color. They could then be asked to draw a picture about an event that pertains to a topic the class is studying. show less

A cute easy reader, perfect for beginning readers. The black and white images are simple and add a bit of interest to the book as you and your child try to count the animals. A repeating story that begs to be read again and again.

I'm so torn.

On the one hand, this is a simply-written, repetitive book about the real start of spring - a flower in the snow - and how all the animals react to that.

On the other hand, the artwork is a little uninspiring, and I'm not certain black-and-white is the color scheme to go with here.

Definitely read before you buy.

This is another book what was great. I enjoyed watching all the animals com out of winter hibernation for the big reveal at the end of the book