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Books for Preschoolers - Let's Be Happy

πŸŽ“ Skills Your Child Will Develop

  • ❀️ Empathy & Emotional Intelligence β€” Experiencing a character's feelings, understanding their motivations, and seeing how they navigate challenges develops the theory of mind and empathy that underlie healthy relationships, moral reasoning, and social intelligence.
  • πŸ‘‚ Listening Comprehension β€” Following a story β€” keeping track of characters, events, and cause-effect relationships β€” builds the listening comprehension that transfers directly to reading comprehension once children decode independently.
  • πŸ”’ Story Structure Understanding β€” Following a story's arc β€” beginning, problem, resolution, ending β€” builds the narrative schema that makes complex texts comprehensible and supports children's own storytelling and writing development.
  • 😊 Love of Reading β€” Every positive reading experience β€” a funny book, an exciting story, a perfectly timed cuddle β€” builds the reading identity and intrinsic motivation that sustains literacy development through the independent reading years.
Let’s Be Happy 
By P. K. Hallinan
Illustrated by P. K. Hallinan

From the Let’s Be Happy Preschool Book

“For when all’s said and done,
I’ve learned that it’s true,
When I’m giving out happiness…
Then I’m happy, too!”

About the Let’s Be Happy Preschool Book

Let’s Be Happy is a fun and enthusiastic preschool book that encourages empathy. Hallinan successfully presents a complex topic in simple terms that preschoolers can understand. The playful rhymes sweep preschoolers through the pages and cheerful illustrations hold their interest throughout.

From the Reviewer – Charlene Haukom

Let’s Be Happy is an excellent tool for teaching preschoolers how to maintain a positive attitude. This positive attitude leads to happiness for the preschooler as well as others. My son (almost two) received this book as a gift and immediately fell in love with it. The catchy rhythm and lively illustrations make the book a joy to read. My daughter (four) also enjoys the bright illustrations and is more in tune with the book’s message.

Let’s Be Happy’s Simple and Powerful Text

The text in Let’s be Happy is quick and easy to read, yet delivers a powerful message in terms that preschoolers understand. Preschoolers are drawn in by the rhyming text that shows the main character’s desire to be happy. The rhythm easily carries preschoolers along the main character’s happy journey – first showing how he expresses happiness while playing, then progressing through chores, and eventually helping others. He realizes that being happy begins in his own mind, and that he can pass that happiness on to others.

Let’s Be Happy’s Illustrations Tell the Story

Let’s Be Happy is full of bright and cheerful illustrations that tell the story as well as the text. Every page contains vibrant colors to set the happy tone of the book, and smiles appear on nearly all the faces. Hidden details complete the story. For example, one page shows a snowman built by the main character. You may not notice at first glance, but the snowman is wearing the baseball hat that the main character wears throughout the story. The main character has given out happiness by loaning the snowman his favorite hat.

Let’s Be Happy Sets a Happy Tone

The tone of Let’s Be Happy is enthusiastic, cheerful, and, of course, happy. The text and illustrations combine to provide an upbeat story that is fun to read. Preschoolers will be enchanted with the book and won’t even realize they’re being taught a lesson on preschool emotions!

Let’s Be Happy is Appropriate in the Classroom and at Home

Let’s Be Happy is a must-have for classrooms, as well as home bookshelves. Parents won’t mind reading this one over and over. The simple rhyming text makes it extremely easy to read. Preschool classrooms can use the book to teach preschool emotions, especially by playing PreschoolRock’s game based on this book – Preschool Emotions Role-Playing Game.

Let’s Be Happy Book Details

Title: Let’s Be Happy
Reading level: Ages 4-8
Board book: 26 pages
Publisher: Candy Cane Press; Boardbook edition (August 15, )
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0824965884
ISBN-13: 978-0824965884


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Helpful Tips for Parents

  • Let children choose books. Even if they always choose the same book, following their interest builds the reading habit more reliably than adult selection.
  • Don't stop picture books when children start reading independently. Picture books remain intellectually appropriate through age 10+ β€” the illustrations carry information words cannot.
  • Poetry is the highest-density language exposure available in children's literature. A poem that takes 60 seconds to read delivers the vocabulary, rhythm, and craft of far longer prose.
  • Audiobooks count as reading. Children who listen to audiobooks develop the same comprehension, vocabulary, and story-structure understanding as children read to by adults.

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I switch from picture books to chapter books?

Chapter books don't replace picture books β€” they extend the reading menu. Most children enjoy having a chapter book read aloud starting around age 4–5, even before they can read independently. Picture books remain appropriate through childhood (and adulthood β€” they're literature, not a developmental stage to be exited). When introducing chapter books: choose ones with short chapters, interesting characters, and immediate plot engagement. The Magic Tree House, Frog and Toad, and Flat Stanley series are reliable first chapter book series.

Related reading: See also our vocabulary building guide and our nursery rhymes and literacy guide for more ideas on this topic.