Ever meet someone with a resting grump face? Well, what about a creature with the exact opposite? As the quokka at the center of this silly little tale will tell you, having an RHF (resting happy face) is no picnic! Humans and other creatures assume that they are always happy to be woken from naps for selfies, be cut in line, or even to see others take a spill! What’s a multi-faceted yet eternally smiley creature to do?
This was a fun title with a unique concept to explore, especially for readers who don’t always wear their emotions on their face (as many do). It works particularly well as a read-aloud by giving an opportunity to juxtapose such a happy face with such an ill-tempered character. It’s definitely better for little ones who already have a grasp of complex emotions, however; without, the dissonance of the adorable illustrations and dry humor may sail over heads. Lastly, there’s some pretty awesome info on quokkas in the backmatter, which can spark conversations about these unique critters. Baby Bookworm approved!
Thanks so much to SimonKIDS for sending us a copy of this one!
The Baby Bookworm 