The Happy Day [Paperback]

Ruth Krauss (Author), Marc Simont (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 2 and up

Snow is falling. All the animals are fast asleep in their animal homes. They awake. They open their eyes. They sniff. They run. What will they find?

1950 Caldecott Honor Book

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In this Caldecott Honor book, the animals awaken to the sweet green scents of spring and joyfully celebrate the arrival of the new season. Ages 3-7.
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

"A distinguished book." -- -- H.

"A distinguished book." -- H.

"A lovely book, with enchanting pictures." -- -- K.

"A lovely book, with enchanting pictures." -- K.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 2 and up
  
• Paperback: 36 pages
• Publisher: HarperCollins (January 15, 1989)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0064431916
• ISBN-13: 978-0064431910
• Product Dimensions: 11.8 x 8.4 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #703,878 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #26 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Authors & Illustrators, A-Z > ( S ) > Simont, Marc

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A single flower blooming in the woods brings joy., May 12, 1999

By 

R. D. Allison ([e-mail]) (Gainesville, Florida, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Happy Day (Paperback)

A short children's book about animals hibernating in the winter yet who come out to see a happy sight, a flower growing in the middle of the snow. Spring must be near! The book was a 1950 Caldecott Honor book (i.e., a runner-up to the Medal winner) for best illustration in a children's book.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Classroom Read, March 21, 2009

By 

Y.H. Prum "Prumandy" (New Hampshire) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Happy Day (Paperback)

As a preschool teacher, I'm always on the lookout for very good, very short books which I can grab off the shelf and read to my students during those moments when I need a filler activity. THE HAPPY DAY is all that, and so much more. This is the perfect book to end class with on the first day of spring, which I've done every spring for 29 years. From the moment I hold up the book, read the title, and ask why it's such a happy day for the animals, my students are involved and invested. Before I start reading the text, I ask the children what the animals on the cover might be looking at. I give them time to speculate, and I start reading after everybody has contributed an idea. Before I make that last page turn, when it is evident the reader is about to discover what got these animals all sniffing and running, I ask again what could it be. The typical response is some kind of food. When I turn the page and reveal that yellow flower, there is ALWAYS an audible gasp from my students. Nobody expects it, which makes it a most satisfying ending. If the adult reader sets the tone properly, and emphasizes the tension Krauss and Simont created in the story through his or her reading, most preschoolers are intensely interested in this lovely story. A book that works this well when read to a large group should work well as a lap book. As a children's book author, I'm a VERY critical reader. THE HAPPY DAY passes muster with me, not an easy feat.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars the unhappy child but happy parent, January 8, 2008

By 

Erica Y. Burger (Oregon) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Happy Day (Library Binding)

I think this book is really cute, but my son, who is three, is not thrill with it. He thinks its boring. Maybe in a couple of years he will enjoy it more.