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antlersantlers's review against another edition
5.0
There are a million things I love about this board book. The illustrations are spectacular and this has brought Julie Flett to my attention and I love her so much. The text talks about feelings, senses, and family while very clearly depicting native families.
caseythecanadianlesbrarian's review against another edition
5.0
My Heart Fills with Happiness, while certainly appropriate and fun for any family, is specifically intended for Indigenous readers. Materials like this and Richard Van Camp’s Welcome Song for Baby are crucial for these families, especially as Aboriginal populations in Canada are disproportionately younger than settler populations (National Household Survey: Aboriginal Peoples in Canada). The dedication in particular makes the audience of the book clear, by dedicating the book to residential school survivors. Also, Indigenous cultural details pepper the book, such as the mention of bannock, drumming, and oral storytelling. This positive reinforcement of cultural values is so important because of the history of colonization and its continued legacy in Canada that devalues Indigenous cultures.
For the purposes of language learning, the book does well with repetition: the phrase “my heart fills with happiness when” repeats four times, with a variation at the end of “what fills YOUR heart with happiness?” that encourages answering and asking questions between the parent and child. The other text in the book is simple sentences, all in the present tense starting with “I.” Some pages of text have sentences as short as “I sing” or “I drum.” Others have slightly longer sentences, like “I hold the hand of someone I love.” Although “my heart fills with happiness when” is not repeated before every sentence that completes it, it feels natural to repeat the phrase even when it is not written on the page while you are reading the book aloud.
Much of the text encourages touch and being active. It also frequently references the senses (seeing, smelling, feeling). “I see the face of someone I love” is followed by an illustration of a baby touching their mother’s face, implicitly encouraging both of them to touch each other’s faces. The text and illustration referencing hand holding perform the same function. References to smelling bannok, singing, dancing, drumming, and other activities easily invoke the idea to show the baby what is meant, by singing, dancing, or drumming in front of them, or touching your nose for smelling. Touching and shared activities promote bonding and emotional attachment, which in turn establishes a relationship so that babies can “use the mature functions of the parent’s brain to organize its own processes” (Siegel, The Developing Mind, p. 91).
Flett’s illustrations do use big blocks of distinct colour in some spots, but different shades of one colour in others, so an infant over 3 months with more advanced eyesight would get more out of the pictures in My Heart Fills with Happiness than a younger baby. In Growing a reader from birth: Your child’s path from language to literacy Diane McGuinness confirms that newborns prefer black and white and bright primary colour contrast (p. 30).
For the purposes of language learning, the book does well with repetition: the phrase “my heart fills with happiness when” repeats four times, with a variation at the end of “what fills YOUR heart with happiness?” that encourages answering and asking questions between the parent and child. The other text in the book is simple sentences, all in the present tense starting with “I.” Some pages of text have sentences as short as “I sing” or “I drum.” Others have slightly longer sentences, like “I hold the hand of someone I love.” Although “my heart fills with happiness when” is not repeated before every sentence that completes it, it feels natural to repeat the phrase even when it is not written on the page while you are reading the book aloud.
Much of the text encourages touch and being active. It also frequently references the senses (seeing, smelling, feeling). “I see the face of someone I love” is followed by an illustration of a baby touching their mother’s face, implicitly encouraging both of them to touch each other’s faces. The text and illustration referencing hand holding perform the same function. References to smelling bannok, singing, dancing, drumming, and other activities easily invoke the idea to show the baby what is meant, by singing, dancing, or drumming in front of them, or touching your nose for smelling. Touching and shared activities promote bonding and emotional attachment, which in turn establishes a relationship so that babies can “use the mature functions of the parent’s brain to organize its own processes” (Siegel, The Developing Mind, p. 91).
Flett’s illustrations do use big blocks of distinct colour in some spots, but different shades of one colour in others, so an infant over 3 months with more advanced eyesight would get more out of the pictures in My Heart Fills with Happiness than a younger baby. In Growing a reader from birth: Your child’s path from language to literacy Diane McGuinness confirms that newborns prefer black and white and bright primary colour contrast (p. 30).
sunflowerjess's review against another edition
5.0
I had previously read the board book version of this book, which is written only in English. This version, including both Plains Cree and English, was even more touching and powerful for me by stint of being duolingual. This book celebrates simple but profound joys of life. I am so happy this book exists to give representation to Indigenous children.
kiralovesreading's review against another edition
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
divadiane's review against another edition
5.0
This was a very sweet book with wonderful, happy illustrations. Text and illustrations alternate with a small element of the illustration picked out and magnified for the text page. A flower, a bird. Lovely.
elizabethlk's review against another edition
5.0
My Heart Fills With Happiness was hard for me to decide on a rating for. It didn't really blow me away in the traditional sense, but it genuinely filled my heart with happiness.
This is such a lovely little story of love, family, community, and happiness. I thought this was a special book in its own sweet way, and I would like to get a copy for my niece (who is at the age where board books are really the best option). The language is simple and sweet and works incredibly well for a book for young children. The illustrations are gorgeous, but I absolutely adore Julie Flett's work all the time anyway.
This is the first book I have read from Monique Gray Smith, but it certainly won't be the last (and I can be certain because I have already read a second, review to come). Definitely recommended to anyone looking for a great board book for their little ones, or who just wants to read a beautiful little story with beautiful illustrations.
This is such a lovely little story of love, family, community, and happiness. I thought this was a special book in its own sweet way, and I would like to get a copy for my niece (who is at the age where board books are really the best option). The language is simple and sweet and works incredibly well for a book for young children. The illustrations are gorgeous, but I absolutely adore Julie Flett's work all the time anyway.
This is the first book I have read from Monique Gray Smith, but it certainly won't be the last (and I can be certain because I have already read a second, review to come). Definitely recommended to anyone looking for a great board book for their little ones, or who just wants to read a beautiful little story with beautiful illustrations.
bibliothique's review against another edition
5.0
read this at the end of all ages storytime. it was surprisingly interactive (like without me having to prompt the preschool-plus crowd much; at the "holding the hand of someone i love" part, one of the little girls said she was holding her own hand because she loved herself yes I cried lol) and we made mini murals to answer the question of "what fills your heart with happiness?" i think next time i might explore flett's style by doing a texture art kinda thing. anyway all this to say (for my own recordkeeping more than anything) 10 out of 10 would recommend
kailiasage's review against another edition
This book is incredibly cold for two reasons. One, this book is written by an Indigenous author with an Indigenous main character! A lot of the illustrations to pick this character with her family and friends.
Two, this book had a really along picture which was really poor. I think that this would be a great type of book for kids who are learning to read English because it highlights the words as they’re being spoken. I know that when I was learning English it helped a lot to hear and see what words were being spoken so I could understand it better.
Two, this book had a really along picture which was really poor. I think that this would be a great type of book for kids who are learning to read English because it highlights the words as they’re being spoken. I know that when I was learning English it helped a lot to hear and see what words were being spoken so I could understand it better.