Birdy's Smile Book

K-Gr 3—Redheaded, round-eyed Birdy and her dog, French Fry, take readers through the many reasons to smile. There's not much here in the way of plot or even keen observations: "Smiles make people happy! I try to smile at everyone I see. And most of the time they smile back!" One comment follows another, in no discernible order. A few are entertaining, such as when Birdy decides that if she were food, she'd be cheese, since everyone smiles when a photographer yells, "Cheese!" She describes different smiles, situations, and sayings, and even mentions the relationship between smiling and the release of endorphins. Readers may wonder just how old Birdy is. And that's one of the book's core problems. The bouncy, color-zapped, zany fonts and illustrations would point to the three- to five-year-old set, but the outrageous jokes and puns, along with the missing story line, indicate an older audience. That said, though, it's hard not to smile at the encouraging thoughts and enthusiastic pictures throughout the book. The "mirror" on the last page will tell kids instantly whether Birdy's Smile Book did its job.—Susan Weitz, formerly at Spencer-Van Etten School District, Spencer, NY