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I received this book for free from National Center for Youth Issues in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
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Your Happy Heart by Amie Dean, Susan Keeter Published by National Center for Youth Issues on February 19, 2019
Genres: Juvenile Fiction / School & Education, Juvenile Fiction / Social Themes / Friendship, Juvenile Fiction / Social Themes / Self-Esteem & Self-Reliance
Pages: 32
Format: Paperback
Source: National Center for Youth Issues
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A Story from the Heart...
Fifth-grader Javon has the big responsibility of being a Book Buddy to a kindergartner named Richard. But when he meets Richard for the first time, he isn't so sure he's up for the challenge. Richard won't talk to Javon or even look at him. He seems sad, but Javon quickly realizes that Richard reminds him a whole lot of himself at that age, and Javon is determined to help his new friend.
Both boys learn a lot that year, but what Javon learns from Richard is the most important lesson of all: that <strong>helping someone find their happiness can make your own heart happy, too.
Children need to be taught they have unique gifts they can be proud of and that make them special. They need to know how to cope when the world feels like a big, scary place, and they need to be reminded of the things that make them happy so when they are sad, they can remember those things. With these tools in their tool belts, children can grow in self-confidence and learn to thrive in their world.
Growing up can mean a lot of things, but it can especially mean gaining the ability to help others. In Your Happy Heart by Amie Dean and illustrated by Susan Keeter, Javon is in fifth grade and has signed up to be a Book Buddy, someone who helps kindergartners with their reading. This is a special experience for Javon because he once had a really tough time in kindergarten, but his teacher helped him get through it with her kindness and understanding. Javon is excited to return the favor. But when he meets his book buddy, Richard, he is disappointed that Richard isn’t excited like the other kids to have a book buddy. This makes Javon reflect on his own experiences in kindergarten and think of ways he can help Richard too.
Empathy & Relationships
This is a touching book about empathy. Javon uses the skills he has learned in how to manage his big emotions and helps Richard do the same. The book showcases the power of having a caring relationship when you are facing challenges in your life. The end of the book has pages on helping a child find their gifts and how to BREATHE to calm down.
Check out the Companion Bundle
I love NCYI books because they are always accompanied by a resource bundle that complements the book. This Your Happy Heart bundle is full of activities that support some of the goals of the book including: finding your gifts, building confidence and managing your emotions. If you like the heart activity that the boys do at the end of the book, it’s in the bundle too! There is also a four week planning guide that will help you organize the activities.
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